Reference

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛf.(ə)ɹəns/

Definitions

1. A source of information consulted to verify facts or obtain knowledge about a particular subject
2. A source that offers information for verifying facts or enhancing understanding of a specific topic
3. An origin or document used to confirm facts or gain insight about a topic

Etymology: The word "reference" arrived in English from Middle French "référence," itself borrowed from Medieval Latin "referentia." That Latin noun comes from the present participle of "referre," meaning "carry back" or "bring back," and the sense of "reply" was part of the original verb. So the core idea is one of carrying something back to its source, which is exactly what a reference does when it points you to where a fact came from. The English noun "refer" was in use before the noun "reference" took hold, and the suffix "-ence" simply turned the verb's action into a thing: the act of referring, then the act of pointing someone to a source. Over time the sense shifted from the act of sending a matter back to a higher authority toward the modern idea of a citation or a standard to check against.

Synonyms: citation, mention, source, consultation, allusion

Antonyms: disregard, neglect, omission