referee English · revision 15380

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1621}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/ ''(UK)''; /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|refer|-ee]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person appointed by Parliament to examine applications for patents or monopolies: 1621 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1620s in Etymonline, a sense now obsolete;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates a sense to 1549.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One to whom a disputed matter is referred for decision, an umpire, is from 1670,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and in law a person appointed to try a case in place of the court from the 1680s.^(Etymonline) The sporting sense, a judge of play in games, is recorded by 1820 in Etymonline, 1840 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A person who reviews a learned work before publication is from 1884,^(OED 1989) and a person who vouches for someone's character from later.^(Collins 2023) The verb is from 1883 in Etymonline, 1889 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1621 – a patent examiner.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670 – an arbiter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1820 – a referee in sport.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1883 – to referee (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1884 – a reviewer of learned work.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official who ensures fair play in a game such as football or boxing; an [[umpire]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person to whom a dispute or question is referred for a decision.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who gives a reference about someone's character or ability.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who reviews a scholarly work before publication.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To act as referee.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[referral]]

+ * [[refer]]

+ * [[reference]]

+ * [[umpire]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}