English
refer
Refer comes from Middle English referren, from Old French referer, from Latin referō ‘to carry back, report’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreferō‘to carry back; report’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400referer‘to tell’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500referren
- Englishearliest quotation 1854refer
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreferō‘to carry back; report’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400referer‘to tell’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500referren
- Englishearliest quotation 1854refer
Earliest quotation: 1854, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined i: “Her counsel has complained of the charge of the…”
Every English word from Latin referō
Today it means
verb To direct the attention of (someone toward something).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin referō / refer