- cite
- late 15c., from O.Fr. citer "to summon," from L. citare "to cause to move, arouse, summon, urge, call," freq. of ciere "to move, set in motion, stir, rouse, call, invite" from PIE base *kei- "to move to and fro" (cf. Skt. cyavate "stirs himself, goes;" Gk. kinein "to move," kinymai "move myself;" Goth. haitan "call, be called;" O.E. hatan "command, call"). Sense of "calling forth a passage of writing" is first attested 1530s.