Quotation

Origin and History

The English noun quotation derives from the Old French quotacioun, which in turn comes from Latin quaestionem “question, inquiry.” The Latin root quaero means “to ask” or “to seek.” In Middle English the sense shifted from a literal question to an answer that repeats a previous utterance, hence “a statement taken from another source.” By the 17th century, quotation had acquired its modern meaning of a cited passage, and the verb form to quote followed suit. The financial sense—“a price that has been quoted”—arose in the early 19th century as commerce grew more formalized, while the sense of “quota or share” reflects a later metaphorical extension from the idea of a portion of a whole.

Depth of Meaning

At its core, a quotation is more than mere repetition; it is an act of dialogue across time. When we quote a poet or a political leader, we invite the original voice into our present context, creating an echo that can inspire reverence, critique, or solidarity. The word carries a duality: it can be an affirmation of authority (“He quoted the Magna Carta”) or a subtle challenge (“She quoted him back”). In finance, a quotation is an invitation to exchange, a promise of value that hinges on trust. When used as a quota or share, it evokes fairness and distribution, suggesting that each part is measured against the whole. Emotionally, quotations can evoke nostalgia, intellectual curiosity, or a sense of shared heritage.

Usage Example

“When the weight of history pressed upon her, she found solace in a simple quotation: ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ a line that seemed to bridge the gap between past and present.”