cited
UK[ˈsaɪtɪd]US[ˈsaɪtɪd]
v
Mentioned or quoted as an example, authority, or proof, especially in a scholarly or formal context.
v
Formally praised or commended, especially in an official dispatch.
Etymology
The verb 'cite' entered English in the late Middle English period, borrowed from Old French 'citer', which itself derived from Latin 'citare', meaning 'to rouse, to set in motion, to summon'. This Latin verb is a frequentative form of 'ciēre', meaning 'to move, to stir, to call'. The core semantic thread from its ancient root is one of prompting or calling forth. This logic evolved from the physical act of summoning someone to appear before an authority to the more abstract academic and legal sense of summoning or calling upon a source, text, or precedent as evidence or illustration. Thus, when something is 'cited', it has been formally called upon or brought forward to support an argument or acknowledge authority.
Analysis
The word 'cited' is the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'cite'. It is not productively segmentable into distinct morphemes in its current English form without altering the spelling. The base verb 'cite' originates from the Latin 'citare', meaning 'to set in motion, to summon, to call'.
Examples
The researcher cited several recent studies to support her hypothesis.
The soldier was cited for bravery in the official report.
In his essay, he frequently cited the works of Shakespeare.