re|fer

re|fer «rih FUR», verb, -ferred, -fer|ring.

–v.i.

1. to direct attention: »

The minister often refers to the Bible.

2. to relate; apply: »

The rule refers only to special cases.

3. to turn for information or help: »

Writers often refer to a dictionary to find the meaning of words.

–v.t.

1. a) to send or direct for information, help, or action: »

We referred him to the boss. Our librarian refers us to many good books. They referred me to another department.

b) to direct the attention of: »

The asterisk refers the reader to a footnote. These weird sisters…referred me to the coming on of time, with “Hail, King that shalt be!” (Shakespeare).

2. to hand over; submit: »

Let's refer the dispute to the umpire. She treated me with a certain consideration, and often referred questions to me (Francis M. Crawford).

3. to assign to or think of as caused by; assign: »

Some people refer all their troubles to bad luck instead of to poor work.

4. Archaic. to defer.

╂[< Latin referre < re- back + ferre take, bring]

Synonym Study intransitive verb. 1 Refer, allude mean to speak of something in a way to turn attention to it. Refer means to make direct or specific mention: »

In his speech he referred to newspaper accounts of the election campaign.

Allude means to mention indirectly: »

She never referred to the incident, but often alluded to it by hinting.

Usage refer back. Though refer back is not uncommon, it is redundant and regarded as nonstandard in some quarters, though logical parallels, such as raise up and recede from, do not seem to be as objectionable: »

The relative pronoun refers (back) its antecedent.