quotation

The word "quotation" has a precise numerical origin. It derives from the Medieval Latin verb quotare, meaning "to number" or "to cite by chapter and verse," which itself comes from the Latin quotus, meaning "how many" or "of what number." This reflects the original practice of referencing texts by their numbered sections, such as book, chapter, and verse. Over time, the meaning broadened from the act of numbering references to the act of citing any words from a source. By the mid-16th century, it had acquired its commercial sense, referring to a stated price, which is essentially a "numbered" or specified amount. Thus, the journey from counting and numbering to the modern abstract concepts of citing words and stating prices is clearly traced through its Latin roots.

Structure: quot (to mark a number) + ation (noun suffix) - quot: From Latin quotus (how many, of what number), via the verb quotare (to number, to cite by chapter and verse). In this word, it functions as the core root meaning "to cite or refer to by number." - ation: A suffix of Latin origin (-ationem) used to form nouns indicating an action or process, or the result of an action.