Referring

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Directing attention to a particular person, thing, or idea for explanation ; naming or citing a source or example for clarification ; pointing to an element within a conversation or text to establish meaning
2. Naming a specific individual or object to clarify meaning ; citing a particular source or example for support ; indicating a segment or concept within speech or writing to explain context
3. Pointing out someone or something as the subject involved ; quoting or citing a reference to provide evidence or explanation ; drawing attention to a detail within a discussion or text to aid understanding

Etymology: "Referring" is an inflected form of "refer," so its history is that of the verb. "Refer" comes from Latin "referre," meaning "to carry back," built from "re-" (back) and "ferre" (to bear or carry). The Latin sense of physically bringing something back gradually gave way to the idea of directing attention back to something, which is how the verb came to mean pointing someone toward a source, an example, or a person. Middle English "referren" arrived through Old French "referer," and the English verb carried this sense of bringing or sending back, including the sense of handing a matter over to someone for judgment. The modern meanings of naming, citing, or pointing to something in speech grew out of that notion of turning attention back toward a thing.

Synonyms: mentioning, citing, alluding, pointing, designating