reference

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈref.ᵊr.ᵊns/^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English refer + -ence,^[2][3] or else borrowed from French référence, from Medieval Latin *referentia,^[2] from Latin referēns, present participle of referre (“to carry back”).^[2] It is related to refer and referee.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The act of referring a matter to someone for consideration or decision: 1589 in the OED,^[4] the 1580s in Etymonline,^[2] and 1579 in Merriam-Webster.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Relation or respect to something is from 1593,^[4] with the phrase in reference to following in 1594.^[4][2] An allusion is from 1613,^[4] and a direction to a book or passage where information may be found from the 1610s.^[2] A reference book is from 1808 and a reference library by 1834.^[2] A person or thing that may be referred to is from 1837,^[2] and a testimonial from 1895.^[2] In logic and linguistics, the relation of a term to what it denotes is from 1883.^[4] The verb, “to assign”, is from the 1620s, and “to provide with references” from 1837.^[2]

Timeline

• 1589 – the act of referring a matter.^[4]
• 1594 – in reference to.^[4]
• 1613 – an allusion.^[4]
• 1610s – a pointer to a passage.^[2]
• 1808 – reference book.^[2]
• 1883 – in logic.^[4]
• 1895 – a testimonial.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The act of referring; a mention or allusion.
2. A note directing the reader to another passage or source; a citation.
3. A work, such as a dictionary, consulted for information.
4. A statement about a person's character or ability, or the person who gives it.
5. Relation; respect: with reference to.
6. In linguistics, the relation between a word and what it denotes.

Verb

1. To supply with references, or to cite.

Word family

• referencer
• referentially
• subreference
• coreference
• misreference
• nonreference
• self-reference
• cross-reference

Related words

• referee
• referent
• referential
• relate
• relation
• refer
• referral

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press