Recitation refers to the act of repeating or reciting something from memory, often in a formal or public context. It can involve delivering a poem, speech, or text aloud, usually as a way of sharing knowledge, performance, or artistic expression. In academic settings, recitation can also refer to verbal repetition of learned material, such as when students orally present parts of a text they have studied.
The word "recitation" comes from the Latin "recitatio," which means "a reading aloud," derived from "recitare," meaning "to read out" or "to recite." The roots "re-" meaning "again" and "citare" meaning "to summon" or "to call" reflect the action of calling back or repeating aloud.