Quotations

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/

Definitions

  1. A group of marks used to indicate direct speech or to cite a phrase from a text | Symbols that signify the exact words spoken or written by someone else, often used to highlight a reference | Marks employed in writing to denote spoken dialogue or to reference another source precisely
  2. A set of punctuation marks that express spoken words or attribute phrases to their original context is essential in writing
  3. These symbols serve to denote verbatim remarks made by individuals or reference textual extracts accurately

Etymology: The practice of marking someone else's exact words with special punctuation has been around for centuries, but the specific term for these marks entered English in the early 17th century. The word originated in the late 1500s, derived from the verb "quote," which itself came from the Latin "quotare," meaning "to mark a book with numbers" or "to number." This Latin root stems from "quot," meaning "how many," reflecting the idea of referencing or numbering passages. Originally, "quotation" referred more broadly to the act of citing or repeating someone else's words or text rather than the punctuation marks themselves. Over time, as printing and literary culture grew, the need to visually distinguish quoted speech or text became standardized. These visual markers eventually came to be known as "quotations" or "quotation marks," reflecting the act of quoting. The plural form, often used when discussing the punctuation marks, highlights their function: enclosing words taken directly from another source. The pronunciation with stress on the second syllable, /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/, reflects typical English stress patterns for words ending in "-ation," a common suffix that forms nouns indicating an action or process. Thus, the term connects the physical act of marking a text with numbers or references in ancient manuscripts to the modern use of punctuation that signals direct speech or cited material in writing. Its journey from Latin through Renaissance English captures the evolving relationship between written language and its visual representation.

Synonyms: cites, references, citations