Ref"er*ence (r?f"?r-ens), n. [See Refer.]
1. The act of
referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for guidance.
2. That which refers to something; a specific direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text- book.
3. Relation; regard; respect.
Something that hath a reference to my state.
Shak. 4. One who, or that which, is referred to. Specifically;
(a) One of whom inquires can be made as to the integrity, capacity, and the like,
of another. (b) A work, or a passage in a
work, to which one is
referred.
5. (Law)
(a) The act of submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons for decision. (b) (Equity) The process of sending any matter, for inquiry in a
cause, to a
master or other officer, in order that
he may ascertain facts and report to the
court.
6. Appeal. [R.] "Make your full reference."
Shak.
Reference Bible, a Bible in which brief explanations, and references to parallel passages, are printed
in the margin of the
text.
Hear it pronounced