Wiktionary

quote

See also: Quote

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English quoten, coten (“to mark (a book) with chapter numbers or marginal references”), from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotāre (“to distinguish by numbers, number chapters”), itself from Latin quotus (“which, what number (in sequence)”), from quot (“how many”) and related to quis (“who”). The sense developed via “to give as a reference, to cite as an authority” to “to copy out exact words” (since 1680); the business sense “to state the price of a commodity” (1866) revives the etymological meaning. The noun, in the sense of “quotation,” is attested from 1885; see also usage note, below.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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quote (plural quotes)

  1. A quotation; a statement attributed to a person.
  2. A quotation mark.
  3. A summary of work to be done with a set price.
    After going over the hefty quotes, the board decided it was cheaper to have the project executed by its own staff.
  4. A price set for a financial security or commodity.

Usage notes

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Until the late 19th century, quote was exclusively used as a verb. Since then, it has been used as a shortened form of both quotation and quotation mark; see etymology, above. This use as a noun is well understood and widely used, although it is often rejected in formal and academic contexts.[1]

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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Verb

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quote (third-person singular simple present quotes, present participle quoting, simple past and past participle quoted)

  1. (transitive) To repeat (the exact words of a person).
    The writer quoted the president's speech.
  2. (transitive) To prepare a summary of work to be done and set a price.
  3. (commerce, transitive) To name the current price, notably of a financial security.
  4. (intransitive) To indicate verbally or by equivalent means the start of a quotation.
  5. (archaic) To observe, to take account of.
    • 1598, John Marston, “Satyre IV”, in The Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Image, and Certaine Satyres (poem):
      But must our moderne Critticks envious eye
      Seeme thus to quote some grosse deformity?
    • 1600, Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 2, scene 1:
      That hath made him mad.
      I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
      I had not quoted him. I fear'd he did but trifle …
    • 1606, John Day, The Isle of Gulls:
      I prethe doe, twill be a sceane of mirth
      For me to quote his passions and his smiles,
      His amorous haviour, …

Synonyms

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  • (repeat words): cite

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rosenheim, Edward W.; Ann Batko. (2004) When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People: How to Avoid Common Errors in English. Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. p. 207 →ISBN

Anagrams

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French

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Verb

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quote

  1. inflection of quoter:
    1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

See also

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Anagrams

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Italian

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Noun

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quote f

  1. plural of quota

Anagrams

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Latin

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Adjective

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quote

  1. vocative masculine singular of quotus
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