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citer

to quote, cite

verb see-TAY Less Common

Origin: Latin 'citare' (to summon, call)

Also means

to summon (legally)

Usage Note

Citer covers both literary quotation and legal summons: citer quelqu'un en justice means to take someone to court. The noun citation derives directly from it. In academic writing, citer ses sources ('to cite one's sources') is a core expectation.

Examples

"Elle a cité un poème en classe."

Natural Translation

She quoted a poem in class.

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