cite

• POS: Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

cite, v. t. [F. citer, fr. L. citare, intens. of cire, ciēre, to put in motion, to excite; akin to Gr. to go, Skr. to sharpen.].

•  To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear, as before a court; to summon.  [1913 Webster]

  "The cited dead,
  Of all past ages, to the general doom
  Shall hasten."  [1913 Webster]

  "Cited by finger of God."  [1913 Webster]
•  To urge; to enjoin.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another.  [1913 Webster]

  "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."  [1913 Webster]
•  To refer to or specify, as for support, proof, illustration, or confirmation.  [1913 Webster]

  "The imperfections which you have cited."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bespeak; to indicate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Aged honor cites a virtuous youth."  [1913 Webster]
•  To notify of a proceeding in court.  Abbot

Syn. -- To quote; mention, name; refer to; adduce; select; call; summon. See Quote.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cite, v.tr.
1 adduce as an instance.
2 quote (a passage, book, or author) in support of an argument etc.
3 mention in an official dispatch.
4 summon to appear in a lawcourt.

Derivative

citable adj.

Etymology

ME f. F f. L citare f. ciere set moving

THESAURUS

cite

accuse, address to, adduce, advance, allege, allude to, anatomize, arraign, article, atomize, bid come, book, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to attention, bring to book, bring to notice, call, call attention to, call away, call back, call for, call forth, call in, call out, call to mind, call together, call up, charge, circumstantiate, cite a particular, complain, conjure, conjure up, convene, convoke, count, crown, crown with laurel, decorate, demand, demonstrate, denounce, denunciate, descend to particulars, detail, direct attention to, direct to, do honor, document, enter into detail, enumerate, evoke, example, exemplify, fasten on, fasten upon, finger, focus on, give a for-instance, give full particulars, hang something on, honor, illustrate, impeach, imply, impute, indent, indict, inform against, inform on, insinuate, instance, invoke, itemize, lay, lay charges, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, mention, mind, muster, muster up, name, number, offer, order up, page, particularize, pay regard to, pay tribute, pick out, pin on, point at, point out, point to, praise, preconize, prefer charges, present, press charges, put on report, quote, recall, recollect, refer to, remind, reminisce, render honor to, report, reproach, requisition, retain, retrospect, revive, send after, send for, serve, specify, spell out, subpoena, substantiate, summon, summon forth, summon up, summons, take to task, task, taunt with, tax, tell, touch on, twit

ROGET THESAURUS

cite

Conformity

VB conform to, conform to rule, accommodate oneself to, adapt oneself to, rub off corners, be regular, move in a groove, follow observe the rules, go by the rules, bend to the rules, obey the rules, obey the precedents, comply with, tally with, chime in with, fall in with, be guided by, be regulated by, fall into a custom, fall into a usage, follow the fashion, follow the crowd, follow the multitude, pass muster, do as others do, hurler avec les loups, stand on ceremony, when in Rome do as the Romans do, go with the stream, go with the flow, swim with the stream, swim with the current, swim with the tide, blow with the wind, stick to the beaten track, keep one in countenance, exemplify, illustrate, cite, quote, quote precedent, quote authority, appeal to authority, put a case, produce an instance, elucidate, explain.

Command

VB command, order, decree, enact, ordain, dictate, direct, give orders, prescribe, set, appoint, mark out, set a task, prescribe a task, impose a task, set to work, put in requisition, bid, enjoin, charge, call upon, instruct, require at the hands of, exact, impose, tax, task, demand, insist on, claim, lay claim to, revendicate, reclaim, cite, summon, call for, send for, subpoena, beckon, issue a command, make a requisition, issue a requisition, promulgate a requisition, make a decree, issue a decree, promulgate a decree, make an order, issue an order, promulgate an order, give the word of command, give the word, give the signal, call to order, give the law, lay down the law, assume the command, remand, be ordered, receive an order.

Lawsuit

VB go to law, appeal to the law, bring to justice, bring to trial, bring to the bar, put on trial, pull up, accuse, prefer a claim, file a claim, take the law of, inform against, serve with a writ, cite, apprehend, arraign, sue, prosecute, bring an action against, indict, impeach, attach, distrain, commit, arrest, summon, summons, give in charge, empanel a jury, implead, join issue, close the pleadings, set down for hearing, try, hear a cause, sit in judgment, adjudicate.

Accusation

VB accuse, charge, tax, impute, twit, taunt with, reproach, brand with reproach, stigmatize, slur, cast a stone at, cast a slur on, incriminate, criminate, inculpate, implicate, call to account, take to blame, take to task, put in the black book, inform against, indict, denounce, arraign, impeach, appeach, have up, show up, pull up, challenge, cite, lodge a complaint, prosecute, bring an action against, blow upon, charge with, saddle with, lay to one's door, lay charge, lay the blame on, bring home to, cast in one's teeth, throw in one's teeth, cast the first stone at, have a rod in pickle for, keep a rod in pickle for, have a crow to pluck with, trump up a charge.

Evidence

VB be evidence, evince, show, betoken, tell of, indicate, imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe, have weight, carry weight, tell, speak volumes, speak for itself, rest upon, depend upon, repose on, bear witness, give evidence, testify, depose, witness, vouch for, sign, seal, undersign, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest, acknowledge, make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate), indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant, adduce, attest, cite, quote, refer to, appeal to, call, call to witness, bring forward, bring into court, allege, plead, produce witnesses, confront witnesses, place into evidence, mark into evidence, collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence, experiment, have a case, make out a case, establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse, bring home to, bring to book.