Quote

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kwəʊt/
• Rhymes: -əʊt

Origin

Recorded since 1387 “to mark (a book) with chapter numbers or marginal references”, from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotare ("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.

Full definition of quote

Verb

1. (transitive) To repeat someone’s exact words.
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, The Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Image, and Certaine Satyres Chapter Satyre IV, But must our moderne Critticks envious eye
  Seeme thus to quote some grosse deformity?
• 1600, Shakespeare, Hamlet, 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

• (repeat words) cite

Antonyms

• end quote
• unquote

Derived terms

• quotable
• quote unquote
• misquote

Related terms

• quota
• quotation
• quotidian
• quotient

Noun

1. A quotation, statement attributed to someone else.
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.

Usage notes

Until the late 19th century, quote was exclusively used as a verb. Since then, it has been used as a shortened form of either quotation or 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.

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 1-56414-722-3

Derived terms

• pull-quote

Anagrams

• toque