Borrowed from Middle French récitation, from Latin recitatio.

• IPA: /ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən/

recitation

1. The act of publicly reciting something previously memorized.
2. The material recited.
3. A regularly scheduled class, in a school, in which discussion occurs of the material covered in a parallel lecture.
   • 1882, Wayside Gleanings for Leisure Moments, Cambridge University Press, page 20:

     I shall now endeavor to give some account of the College.... Some then go to a recitation of the lesson they have learnt the previous evening. Some return to their rooms till the breakfast-bell, about seven or after. At eight the sludy bell rings. All must then go in their rooms and continue there, even if they have no lessons to learn, unless they attend a recitation which occupies an hour.

   • 1896, Frank Norris, "The 'English Courses' of the University of California", reprinted in, 1986, Novels and Essays, Library of America, ISBN 0940450402, page 1109,

     In the "announcement of courses" published annually by the faculty of the University of California the reader cannot fail to be impressed with the number and scope of the hours devoted by the students to recitations and lectures upon the subject of "literature."

4. A reiteration; a setting down, e.g. for ease of reference, of something previously established.
5. (music) A part of a song's lyrics that is spoken rather than sung.

• French: récitation
• German: Rezitation, Vortragen
• Russian: деклама́ция
• Spanish: recitación

• French: récitation