noun

1. a summons to appear before a court of law
2. the act of citing, or quoting
3. a passage cited; quotation
4. a reference as to a legal statute, a previous law case, or a written authority, as precedent or justification
5. ☆
   1. honorable mention in an official report for bravery or meritorious service in the armed forces
   2. a formal statement of the reasons for honoring a person in public with an award or degree

Etymology: ME citacion < OFr citation < L citatio, a command (in LL, a summoning) < pp. of citare: see cite