/kwəʊt/, [k(ʰ)wəʊt], [kʰwoʊt]
OriginFrom 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.
- A statement attributed to a person; a quotation.
“She loved reading quotes of famous people.”
- A quotation mark.
- A summary of work to be done with a set price; a quotation.
“After going over the hefty quotes, the board decided it was cheaper to have the project executed by its own staff.”
- A price set and offered (by the potential seller) for a financial security or commodity; a quotation.
- transitiveTo repeat (the exact words of a person).
“The writer quoted the president's speech.”
- transitiveTo prepare a summary of work to be done and set a price; to estimate.
“Can you believe they quoted me $5,000?”
- transitiveTo name the current price, notably of a financial security.
- intransitiveTo indicate verbally or by equivalent means the start of a quotation.
- archaicTo observe, to take account of.
“But must our moderne Critticks envious eye
Seeme thus to quote some grosse deformity?”
“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 …”
“I prethe doe, twill be a sceane of mirth
For me to quote his passions and his smiles,
His amorous haviour, …”
- Used in speech to indicate the start of a quotation.
“She told me she was, quote, "too hot for you."”
Formsquotes(plural) · quotes(present, singular, third-person) · quoting(participle, present) · quoted(participle, past) · quoted(past)