Etymologically
Log in

refero

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈrɛ.fɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɛː.fe.ro][1]

Forms

referō (present infinitive referre, perfect active rettulī, supine relātum); third conjugation, suppletive[1]

Etymology

It is from re- “back, again” and ferō “to carry”, with the suppletive perfect ⟨rettulī⟩ and participle ⟨relātum⟩.[2][1][3] Terence and Lucretius have ⟨rellātum⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of bringing back and of reporting.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bring or carry back, as in Plautus, and in war to bring back spoils, and to move back, pedem referre “to go back”, signa referre “to retreat”.[2][6] It meant to bring back a reply, to report news, and in Terence to refer a matter to someone for decision.[2] In Cicero it meant to put a matter before the Senate, to enter in a record or accounts, to judge by a standard, and to ascribe or trace back to a cause.[2] It meant to give back, repay, echo, and grātiam referre to show one's gratitude, as in Plautus.[2] From Cicero it meant to recall to mind and to relate, tell of, and in Lucretius to resemble.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to yield, refer, relate, tell, bring back.[7] English refer came in the late 14th century, “to trace back, attribute”, and English relate, from the participle, in the 1520s.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of bringing back and of thanking.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of referring a matter.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the Senate and of ascribing.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English refer is recorded.[3]
  • 1520s – English relate is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bring back, carry home; to move back, withdraw.[2]
  2. To return; to revert.[2]
  3. To bring back a message; to report.[2]
  4. To refer (a matter for decision); to raise in the Senate.[2]
  5. To record, enter (in accounts).[2]
  6. To assign to a class; to judge by a standard; to ascribe, trace back.[2]
  7. To give back, repay; to echo, grātiam referre, to show gratitude.[2]
  8. To revive, repeat; to recall.[2]
  9. To relate, tell of.[2]
  10. To resemble.[2]

Word family

  • circumreferō
  • refrīuus
  • relātiō
  • relātīvus
  • relātor
  • relatoria
  • relatrix
  • relātus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson