citation
UK: saɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n | US: saɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n
n. a quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in scholarly work
n. an official summons to appear in court
n. a formal statement recognizing someone’s achievement or service
citation = cit<summon/quote> + ation<noun suffix>
- cit<summon/quote>: From Latin citare ("to summon, urge, call forward"), derived from ciere ("to set in motion"). In modern usage, it retains the dual sense of "quoting" (calling forth text) and "summoning" (legal context).
- ation<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns of action or state (e.g., "creation," "education").
Etymology Origin:
The word citation traces back to Latin citationem, meaning "a summoning." Over time, it expanded from legal summonses (15th century) to include referencing authoritative texts (16th century). The logic is clear: both meanings involve "calling forth"—whether a person (court) or text (academia).
The research paper included a citation from Darwin’s Origin of Species.
She received a citation for speeding on the highway.
The professor emphasized proper citation to avoid plagiarism.
His bravery earned him a citation from the mayor.
The court issued a citation for the witness to testify.