Cite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cited; p. pr. & vb. n. Citing]
Etymology: [F. citer, fr. L. citare, intens. of cire, ciere, to put in motion, to excite; akin to Gr.
1. To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear, as before a court; to summon. The cited dead, Of all past ages, to the general doom Shall hasten. Milton. Cited by finger of God. De Quincey.
2. To urge; to enjoin. [R.] Shak.
3. To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. Shak.
4. To refer to or specify, as for support, proof, illustration, or confirmation. The imperfections which you have cited. Shak.
4 more senses
5. To bespeak; to indicate. [Obs.] Aged honor cites a virtuous youth. Shak.
6. (Law)
To notify of a proceeding in court. Abbot
Syn. -- To quote; mention, name; refer to; adduce; select; call; summon. See Quote.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for cite; he lists it under allege, arraign, quote.
Where he writes about it:
When an alleged criminal is brought to trial, the counsel on either side are accustomed to advance a theory, and adduce the strongest possible evidence in its support; they will produce documents and witnesses, cite precedents, assign reasons, introduce suggestions, offer pleas. — from allege
To quote is to give an author's words, either exactly, as in direct quotation, or in substance, as in indirect quotation; to cite is, etymologically, to call up a passage, as a witness is summoned. — from quote