cite

[sahyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cite ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cit·ed, cit·ing.

to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority: He cited the Constitution in his defense.

to mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example: He cited many instances of abuse of power.

to summon officially or authoritatively to appear in court.

to call to mind; recall: citing my gratitude to him.

Military. to mention (a soldier, unit, etc.) in orders, as for gallantry.

to commend, as for outstanding service, hard work, or devotion to duty.

to summon or call; rouse to action.

Origin of cite

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin citāre to summon before a church court; in Latin, to hurry, set in motion, summon before a court, frequentative of ciēre to move, set in motion

Related formscit·a·ble, cite·a·ble, adjectivecit·er, nounnon·cit·a·ble, adjectivenon·cite·a·ble, adjectiveun·cit·a·ble, adjectiveun·cite·a·ble, adjectiveun·cit·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcite sight site

cite

[sahyt]

noun

citation(defs 7, 8).

Origin of cite

by shortening

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for cites

repeat, name, offer, mention, indicate, specify, recount, allege, tell, present, call, order, exemplify, advance, remember, reference, reminisce, rehearse, excerpt, number

Examples from the Web for cites

Contemporary Examples of cites

He cites an interview that a freed POW, Air Force Lt. Col. William Harrison, gave to The New York Times in 1953.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built
Michael Daly
December 12, 2014
He cites the career of an erstwhile friend the film director M. Night Shyamalan.
The Hot Designer Who Hates Fashion: VK Nagrani Triumphs His Own Way
Tom Teodorczuk
December 1, 2014
But Carson, who cites his lack of political experience as a strength, may not be equipped to play in such a strong GOP field.
Ben Carson’s Bizarrely Serious, Seriously Bizarre Campaign Crew
Olivia Nuzzi
November 12, 2014
She cites military tactics of isolating and compartmentalizing as a way to deal with the transition.
The Woman Stuck in a Navy SEAL's Body
Nina Strochlic
September 4, 2014
He cites the example of the Bubble Sisters, a four-piece girl group that made its debut in 2003.
Black K-Pop Fans Come Out of the Closet
Sterling Wong
August 31, 2014

Historical Examples of cites

Herzberg-Fraenkel's "Polnische Juden" cites a similar incident.
Rabbi and Priest
Milton Goldsmith
Mr. Smith cites this nonsense; so do Mr. Donnelly and Mr. Holmes.
The Valet's Tragedy and Other Stories
Andrew Lang
He may have read Latin, but most of the books he cites had English translations.
Andrew Lang's Introduction to The Compleat Angler
Andrew Lang
Engelmann cites it in Triticum repens, Roëper in Euphorbia palustris.
Vegetable Teratology
Maxwell T. Masters
He cites Barclay who wrote in Latin, but I read to you from the translation.
A Sketch of the Life of the late Henry Cooper
William Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for cites

CITES

abbreviation for

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

cite

verb (tr)

to quote or refer to (a passage, book, or author) in substantiation as an authority, proof, or example

to mention or commend (a soldier, etc) for outstanding bravery or meritorious action

to summon to appear before a court of law

to enumeratehe cited the king's virtues

Derived Formscitable or citeable, adjectiveciter, noun

Word Origin for cite

C15: from Old French citer to summon, from Latin citāre to rouse, from citus quick, from ciēre to excite

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cites

cite

mid-15c., "to summon," from Old French citer "to summon" (14c.), from Latin citare "to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite," frequentative of ciere "to move, set in motion, stir, rouse, call, invite" from PIE root *keie- "to set in motion, to move to and fro" (cf. Sanskrit cyavate "stirs himself, goes;" Greek kinein "to move, set in motion; change, stir up," kinymai "move myself;" Gothic haitan "call, be called;" Old English hatan "command, call"). Sense of "calling forth a passage of writing" is first attested 1530s. Related: Cited; citing.