reference
Meaning
The act of mentioning something or someone
A letter written by someone who knows you, describing your character and abilities, used when you are trying to get a job
A note in a book, report, etc. that tells you where a particular piece of information comes from
A book, article, etc. that you look at for information
To mention or refer to something
Structure
Usage
She made a polite reference to his recent promotion during the speech.
You will need to provide three professional references on your application form.
For more details, see the reference at the bottom of the page.
Etymology
The word 'reference' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French, which itself derived from the Latin verb referre, meaning "to carry back" or "to relate". This Latin verb is a compound of the prefix re- ("back, again") and ferre ("to bear, carry"). The core concept is one of bringing something back to a source or point of origin. Over time, the meaning evolved from the literal act of carrying back to the more abstract acts of directing attention to something, consulting a source, or providing a testimonial. Thus, the modern meanings of 'reference'—mentioning, citing, or attesting—all retain the logical thread of connecting or relating information back to its origin.
Analysis
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back". - fer: Latin origin, from the verb ferre, meaning "to carry" or "to bring". - ence: Latin origin, a suffix used to form nouns of action or state, equivalent to "-ing" or "-ness".