Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The terminal element of many words derived through French from Latin, as in tierce, justice, solace, absence, etc., occurring especially in the suffixes -ace, -ice, -ance (which see). See also -cy.
  • noun A disguised spelling
  • noun of original final -s (of the root) in ice, advice, device, etc., and the plurals lice, mice, or
  • noun of the original plural suffix -s, -es, in dice, pence: erroneously spelled -ce in conformity with that termination in words of French origin. See -ce, etc.
  • noun The chemical symbol for cerium.
  • noun A disguised modern spelling of the genitive suffix -s, -es, as used adverbially in hence, thence, whence, once, twice, thrice: erroneously spelled -ce in conformity with that termination in words of French origin. See -ce, -ce, and -ce.
  • noun A termination of other origin than as above, particularly in fence, defence, offence, pretence, expence, etc.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb of the period coinciding with the Christian era; preferred by some writers who are not Christians
  • noun a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Sansfin, the doctor, is a mere monstrosity in mind as well as in body, and, except perhaps when she ejaculates (as more briefly reported above), "Comment! ce fameux amour, _ce n'est que ça_?"

    A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 To the Close of the 19th Century George Saintsbury 1889

  • Et quand je parle de l'exercice légitime de la souveraineté, je n'entends point ou je ne dis point l'exercice_ juste, _ce qui produirait une amphibologie dangereuse, à moins que par ce dernier mot on ne veuille dire que tout ce qu'elle opine dans son cercle est_ juste ou tenu pour tel, _ce qui est la vérité.

    Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 2 of 3) Essay 4: Joseph de Maistre John Morley 1880

  • At one moment, she pronounced him to be "_la vraie image de ce cher et bon Lord Castlereagh_," whom she had so much liked; and the next she declared him to be exactly like "_ce preux chevalier, son père_," who was so irresistible that no female heart, or, as she said, at least no Italian female heart, could resist him.

    The Idler in France Marguerite Blessington 1819

  • I am perfectly safe in talking French to him "_Mais je ne vous attendais ce matin_" -- I've got an idea that this is something uncommonly grammatical -- "_à cause de votre lettre que je viens de recevoir_" -- this, I'll swear, is idiomatic -- "_ce matin.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, August 22, 1891 Various

  • Het is in ce in tegenstelling tot de basis van hun systeem, de biedingen.

    The Marketing Pilgrim Podcast – Episode 3 2007

  • The Pl@ce is a church - not a place you'd usually find K or I, however both of us are incredibly impressed by their approach to things, the absence of any pushing.

    September 15th, 2006 mynxii 2006

  • Consider this. these neo-cons are spitting in your face & telling you your fa ce is gettig wet because it is raining.

    Think Progress » VIDEO: Bush Caught In Lie About Snow Resignation 2006

  • Il ne faut pas remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.

    French Word-A-Day: 2005

  • Il ne faut pas remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.

    le lendemain - French Word-A-Day 2005

  • Il ne faut pas remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.

    French Word-A-Day: 2005

Comments

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  • Variant of "cee", the letter c.

    December 6, 2007

  • Ce. Chemical element symbol for Cerium.

    December 16, 2007