Citings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To refer to sources in academic or legal contexts, typically involving quotations or paraphrasing ; To indicate or summon a legal matter before a court or regulatory authority ; To mention or allude to something as an example or evidence in support of an argument or claim
2. To reference specific publications or documents when discussing facts or opinions ; To bring forth issues to be examined by a judicial body or entity ; To highlight particular examples or sources to validate a statement or theory
3. To acknowledge original works or authors in research or scholarly writing ; To call forth a case or individual for legal proceedings ; To use specific instances or documents to bolster one's argument or position

Etymology: "Citings" is the plural of "citing," the gerund or verbal noun form of "cite." The plural form simply counts separate instances of the act: each individual reference, summons or appeal to a source, authority or legal case. The verb "cite" reaches English through Latin "citare," meaning "to summon, set in motion, call forth," a frequentative of "ciere," "to call or set in motion." That original sense of calling someone forward is still present in the legal meaning, where a court cites a person to appear. The scholarly sense, naming a source to support a claim, grew out of the idea of summoning a text or authority as a witness.

Synonyms: quotations, references, citations