The term is applied to historians, sociologists and philosophers of science who merely cite sociological factors as being responsible for those beliefs that went wrong.

New Embarrassment In its brief announcement on closing the department, the Garden merely cited poor attendance.

Nor did Wellington admit that he was merely citing Francis Bacon, who said in 1623, "Nothing is terrible except fear itself."

Mr. Lauder, a former Ambassador to Austria, said yesterday that in the book he was merely citing the research of experts, not his own opinion.

This is an extreme case, cited merely to show the nature of the game.

I was merely citing some of the evidence against it.

"He didn't deny it; he merely cited the odds against it."

I merely cited that as an example of animal behavior that has never been adequately explained.

Indeed, merely citing the scientific consensus behind global warming is a poor argument for its existence, since such general agreements have often proved to be wrong.

Harris is no Hollywood hack; he is merely citing the possibilities.