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The word reference is derived from Middle English referren, from Middle French référer, from Latin referre, "to carry back", formed from the prefix re- and ferre ...

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noun . 1. an act or instance of referring. 2. a mention; allusion. 3. something for which a name or designation stands; denotation. 4. a direction in a book or ...

ref·er·ence (r f r-ns, r f r ns) n. 1. An act of referring: filed away the article for future reference. 2. a. Significance in a specified context: Her speeches ...