reference

/ˈɹefəəns/REH-fur-uhns

/ˈɹɛfɚəns/REH-fur-uhns

Meaningthe act of carrying back

Common meaning: a mention

Other meanings: a source of information

reagain; back
ferto bear, bringLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 737 · scan
encenoun ending: doing, or the condition that results

‘again’ + ‘to bear, bring’ → reference

Journey through time

Latinreferre‘to carry back’source
Frenchreferer‘to refer’source
Englishrefer‘to mention’
Englishformed in English from referreference‘a mention’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from refer + -ence.

Dictionary: Skeat (1898), REFER, p.497 · scan

Roots

ferō, tulī, lātum Latin “to bear, bring”

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