citatae

Citatae is a term that appears in discussions of Latin philology and textual criticism to refer to the quotations or cited passages within a scholarly edition or manuscript. In this usage, citatae are the authorities and fragments that the editor or author cites in support of the text, as distinguished from the editor’s own words or the main narrative.

Usage of citatae varies and it is not a standardized label across disciplines. Some editors and editions prefer to present quotations and authorities in footnotes or within an apparatus criticus rather than under a separate heading like citatae. The content labeled as citatae can include ancient authors’ fragments, scholia, or other authorities cited to corroborate or contextualize the text being presented.

Etymology: citatae derives from Latin citatus, the past participle of citare, meaning to cite or summon. The feminine plural form citatae is used in Latin grammar to denote “the cited passages” or “the quotations,” and it has historically appeared in textual commentary as a nominalized phrase.

In modern scholarship, the concept implied by citatae is more commonly described with terms such as citations, quotations, or textual apparatus. As a result, citatae remain a relatively rare or historical label, with contemporary practice favoring explicit references and standardized apparatus to document cited authorities. See also: textual criticism, apparatus criticus, quotations, citations.