释义 |
▪ I. † reˈfer, n. Sc. Obs. [f. next.] 1. A matter referred for consideration.
1637–50Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 59 [The] Moderator..haveing been absent fra the last Assemblie, and so not acquaint with the referres, did choose assessors to assist him. 1671Rec. Presbyt. Inverness (S.H.S.) 14 Ye minister..being inquired of the refer of John McIntosh [etc.]. 2. A reference in a book. rare—1.
1697Dallas Stiles i. Ded., Your Lordship will find, that by Referrs from one place to another, it is of Large Extent. ▪ II. refer, v.|rɪˈfɜː(r)| Also 4–6 refere, 4, 6–7 referre, 7–8 referr, 5 reffer, 6 refar-. [ad. OF. referer (14th c., Oresme; mod.F. référer), or L. referre, f. re- re- + ferre to bear, carry, etc. Cf. Sp. and Pg. referir, It. referire.] I. Transitive senses. †1. a. To bring back, reduce again. Obs. rare—1.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. xi. 78 (Camb. MS.), Either alle thinges ben referred and browht to nowht [L. ad nihilum referuntur], and floteryn with owte gouernour,..or elles [etc.]. †b. To convey or give back, to restore. Obs.
c1547Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 222 And when thys carcas here to earth shalbe refarde, I do bequeth my weried ghost to serue her afterwarde. 1629Quarles Argalus & Parth. ii. (1677) 83 One while his tired fancy does refer His thoughts to silence. †c. To reproduce, represent, refigure. Obs. rare.
1700Dryden Ovid's Met. xv. 550 His tail in circles toss'd Refers the limbs his backward father lost. 1727Pope, etc. Art of Sinking x. 93 The figures must be so turned, as..to refer exactly the mold, in which they were formed, in all its inequalities,..and distortions. 2. To trace (back), assign, attribute, impute (something) to a person or thing as the ultimate cause, origin, (author,) or source.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. iii. 123 (Camb. MS.), Thanne folweth it that owre vices ben referred to the makere of alle good. c1450tr. De Imitatione i. xv. 17 He ascriueþ to no man eny good þinge, but holy referriþ all þynges to god, of whom þei proceden originaly. 1494Fabyan Chron. vi. clxxvi. 173 They..hadde nat therfore gyuen due thanke vnto God, but referred it to theyr owne strengthes and vertue. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 40 Rest not to moche therto, but referre all to the gyuer. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 70 To..Gathel thay refer our hail stock, and him to be author of our hail natione. 1611Bible Ecclus. Prol. marg., Some referre this Prologue to Athanasius, because it is found in his Synopsis. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 366 While we referre it unto the Moon, we give some satisfaction for the Ocean, but no generall salve for Creeks, and Seas which know no floud. 1841Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. viii. 129 It seems impossible to refer all these well-attested stories to imposition. 1871Blackie Four Phases i. 9 The God to whom he habitually referred his highest inspirations. 3. a. To assign to a thing, or class of things, as being properly included or comprehended in this; to regard as naturally belonging, pertaining, or having relation to; to attach or attribute to.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. ii. 52 (Camb. MS.), Certes, now am I redy to referren the goodes of the body to thise forseyde thinges abouen. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. xxxix. 109 What eurere of gode þinge þei fynde in creatures, all þat þey referre to þe preising [L. ad laudem referunt] of her maker. 1538Starkey England i. i. 16 Thys law [of nature] ys the ground and end of the other, to the wych hyt must euer be referryd. 1597Gerarde Herbal i. xviii. 24 Their nature and vertues are to be referred vnto Dogs grasse. 1641Wilkins Math. Magic i. i. (1648) 2 To the second [study] may be referred all that Knowledge which concerns the Frame of this great Universe. 1697tr. Burgersdicius' Logic i. xxii. 91 Those which..are said to be of the Opposites, or in any other manner are referred to them. 1812–16Playfair Nat. Phil. (1819) II. 267 Let S be the Sun and P and P′ two planets referred to the plane of the ecliptic. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 32 You went wrong when you referred all legislation to a part of virtue, and to an inferior part. †b. To put into, place among, a certain class.
1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. viii. xiv. (1619) 152 Constantius..was first referred of them into the number of the gods. 1633P. Fletcher Elisa xliii, He lives in heaven, among the saints referred. c. To assign to a particular place or date.
a1604Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 85 Stanihurst in his description of Ireland, referreth it to the yeere 155. 1788Priestley Lect. Hist. iv. xvii. 148 A person thus prepared will be able to refer any particular history he takes up to its proper place in universal history. 1828Abercrombie Dis. Brain 311 An obscure affection, referred chiefly to the stomach. 1863Lyell Antiq. Man 26 In a few of the most modern lake-dwellings..(which the antiquaries refer to the sixth century). d. Used with advbs., as here († hither), there.
1605Camden Rem. 34 Hither also may be referred that [name] of Claudius Rutilus. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 12 Hither we must likewise referre what is cited under his name by the same Stobæus. 1715tr. Gregory's Astron. (1726) I. 66 And the Place of the Sun..will be there,..for there the Eye plac'd in the Centre of the Earth refers it. 1830Lindley Nat. Syst. Bot. 49 Adoxa,..which is always referred here, appears to me far more anomalous than Parnassia. †e. To give or bear (trust) to one. Obs.—1
1594West 2nd Pt. Symbol., Chancerie §85 Your said orator then referring especiall trust and confidence to the said J. T. and A. L. †4. a. To bring into relation to a thing or person; to order with reference to. Obs. rare.
c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. viii. (1885) 127 Wherfore all that he dothe owith to be referred to his kyngdome. 1538Starkey England i. i. 21 To thys euery man ought to referre al hys actys, thoughtys and dedys. †b. To apply (a word) to a thing. Obs.
1509Hawes Past. Pleas. v. (Percy Soc.) 24 The Latyn worde whyche that is referred Unto a thynge whych is substancyall, For a nowne substantyve is wel averred. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 93 When a woorde hath a proper signification of the owne, & beyng referred to an other thyng, hath an other meanyng, the Grecians call it Metonymia. 1664H. More Myst. Iniq. v. 13 Εἴδωλον is to be referred also to those things that are not carved Images. 5. refl. To betake, commit, commend, entrust (oneself) to some person or thing for assistance, advice, etc., or in a spirit of submission, acquiescence, or confidence. Now rare or Obs.
c1450Holland Howlat 581 Tharfor I end heir, Refferis me to harraldis, to tell ȝow the hale. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lvii. 24, [I] with ane humill cheir and face, Referris me to the Kyngis grace. 1555Cranmer Let. to Queen Mary in Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.) II. 453, I refer me to the judgment of all indifferent hearers. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. viii. 82 b, As for my part I referre me too that which it may be, and will not otherwise assure it to bee true. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iii. ii. 116, I doe referre me to the Oracle: Apollo be my Iudge. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xvii. 115 He makes not advantage of his chapmans ignorance, chiefly if referring himself to his honesty. 1729Butler Serm. Love God i. Wks. 1874 II. 179 The conclusion of the whole would be, that we should refer ourselves implicitly to him. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) VI. 48, I refer myself to your generosity. 1824Scott Redgauntlet let. xi, I refer myself to God's pleasure, and not to yours. 6. a. To commit, submit, hand over (a question, cause, or matter) to some special or ultimate authority for consideration, decision, execution, etc. Also rarely without const.
1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 19 Thare he referrit the fontayne of humanitee to the will of the fader, as him lykit best for mannis hele. 1535Coverdale 2 Macc. xi. 36 As concernynge the thinges which he referred vnto the kynge, sende hither some with spede. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 6 Referryng the whole matter to the judgement of the same. 1590Nashe Pref. Greene's Menaphon (Arb.) 14, I had rather referre it as a disputatiue plea by diuines, than set it downe as a determinate position. 1614Sir R. Dudley in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 8 Referring the recompence to his gratiousnes. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 248 When they fall out.., they refer their controversie to the next man they meet, who makes them good friends again. 1725Pope Odyss. i. 510 To heav'n alone Refer the Choice to fill the vacant Throne. 1769Robertson Chas. V, vii. III. 30 The King referred the matter to the council. 1822Shelley tr. Calderon i. 255 And thus to me..You may refer the merits of the case. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 44 Socrates proposes at last to refer the question to some older person. absol.1853Wharton Pennsylv. Digest 113 An attorney's agreement to refer binds his client. b. Sc. Law. To submit the fact at issue in a legal action (as the existence of a debt) to the oath of the defendant. Also absol. (quot. 1681).
1579–81Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 254 [The amount owing] wes referrit..to the said Petiris aith. 1681Stair Instit. iv. xliv. §14 Where in any Affair, a Party who Referrs to Oath, pitches upon Particulars sufficient to Infer the Conclusion. 1752McDouall Inst. Laws Scot. II. iv. xxxii. 655 In an action where..the pursuer refers his libel or declaration to the defender's oath. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) IX. 724/1 Crimes cannot, like debts, be referred to the defender's oath. 1853Act 16 Vict. c. 20 §5 It shall not be competent..to refer the cause or any part of it to his oath. †c. To commit (a person) to trial or prison. Obs.
1645Whitelocke Memorials 26 Aug., Lieutenant-colonel Lilburne was committed by order of the house, and referred to a legal trial. 1723Acct. Tryal Pyrates 34 The Prisoner pleaded Force, and an affidavit made by his Captain appearing to the same purpose, he was referred to Marshalsea. †7. a. To defer, postpone, put off (something) to, unto, till, until another time or season. Obs.
1573Philip More Almanack & Prognost. B j, Hillarie Tearme, beginneth the xxiij of Januarie, if it be not Sundaye, which then is referred untill the next day after. 1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. (1594) 6 They had not the patience to refer the rest of that matter unto the afternoone. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xvi. 422 Some advised to referre it to another time. 1670Cotton Espernon iii. xii. 645 The Duke..referr'd it till the next morning. 1751Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless IV. 38 She would refer what she had farther to say on these subjects, 'till another opportunity. †b. Without const. = defer v.1 2. Also, to vote for postponement. Obs.
1611Beaum. & Fl. King & no K. iii. ii, The first is no madder of fighting than I; so that that's referred: the place where it must be ended is four days' journey off. 1640Laud Wks. (1853) III. 290 It came to voting in that House, the first article was denied by eighteen, and referred by eight. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. xix. ii. (1827) VIII. 100 One of the five magistrates who refused to refer the debate. c. To reserve (a subject, etc.) for later treatment. Also const. to and with inf. Now rare.
1559W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 43, I will speake nothing of the Water (but referre it until we intreat of Navigation). 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. vii. 37 b, I doe referre the description of the sayde Ile.., for that it appertayneth vntoo the seconde tome. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 287, I will referre the change of the value of Coynes in the Low-Countries, to the proper place. 1660Barrow Euclid Explic. Signs, Other Abbreviations..the Reader will without trouble understand of himself; saving some few, which, being of less general use, we refer to be explained in their places. 1726Swift Gulliver i. viii, My Account of this Voyage must be referred to the Second Part of my Travels. 1815Kirby & Sp. Entomol. xii. (1818) I. 404 A description of these, however, which will require a detailed survey, I must refer to another letter. †d. To remit the treatment of (a word, subject, etc.) to another word or section of a work. Obs.
1611Cotgr. Errata, Ceincture de dueil (vnder Ceincture) referred vnto Dueil, where it was forgotten. a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 265 What remaineth concerning mastiffs is referred to the same topic in Somersetshire. †e. To carry or bring forward (a sum). Obs.—1
1588J. Mellis Briefe Instr. F j, The rest [= balance] you shall referre and rescribe it in another leafe of the Leager. f. To postpone the passing of (a candidate) in an examination or the acceptance of (an application for a degree), provision being made for re-examination at a later date.
1907Practitioner June 795 A student, who should venture to put upon an examination paper what is the only logical outcome of the teaching of text-books, ought, without hesitation, to be referred. 1908A. S. M. Hutchinson Once Aboard Lugger i. i. 32 ‘I had forgotten. Your examination?’.. ‘I failed. I was referred for three months.’ 1927Univ. Oxford Examination Statutes vi. 227 The examiners shall have power..to recommend the Board to refer the Student's application for leave to supplicate back to him in order that he may present himself for re-examination. 1976Daily Times (Lagos) 3 Nov. 31/2 Twenty-four students drawn from the states and the Armed Forces passed the prescribed test while four students were referred. 1979Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts Dec. 9/1 The candidates for this session's examination were exclusively restricted to those who had been referred in a previous examination or who were resitting in order to obtain higher grades. 8. a. To send or direct (one) to a person, a book or its author for information. Also const. back to.
1601in Moryson Itin. ii. (1617) 152 Wee beseech your Lordships giue vs leaue to referre you for your information in that point to the Iournall which herewithall we send. 1696Whiston Th. Earth ii. (1722) 143, I must refer my Reader to my Short View of the Chronology. 1712Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 381, I refer'd him to the Decem Scriptores. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xi, My wife..referred her to all the neighbours for a character. 1838Dickens O. Twist xxxiii, The ostler..after hearing all he had to say again, referred him to the landlord. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 352, I will refer you to a witness who is worthy of credit. 1927W. E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 123 The elements of committee English which I had picked up in the Debating Society were soon reinforced by the constantly heard expressions: standing orders, terms of reference (defining the scope of a committee's labours), to refer back (to a committee for further consideration). 1934G. B. Shaw On Rocks ii. 267, I must really refer you back to him for further consideration and report. 1961New Eng. Bible Luke xxiii. 15, I have myself examined him in your presence and found nothing in him to support your charges. No more did Herod, for he has referred him back to us. 1976[see sense 8 d below]. absol.1737Waterland Eucharist 413 For the avoiding of prolixity, I choose rather to refer, than to repeat. b. To direct (one) to a fact, event, or thing, by drawing attention to it or pointing it out.
1605Shakes. Macb. i. v. 9 These weyward Sisters saluted me, and referr'd me to the comming on of time. a1715Burnet (J.), Those causes the divine historian refers us to, and not to any productions out of nothing. 1864D. G. Mitchell Sev. Stor. 271, I wrote De Courcy that very day, referring him to the paragraph I had read. †c. To refer any one (for an account) to some book. Obs. rare—1.
1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 36, I referre the description of their [the Banians'] Religion to a Booke late written by Master Lord a Preacher to the Merchants in Surat. d. To send or direct (a person) to a medical consultant or institution for specialist treatment.
1961Lancet 2 Sept. 517/2 We are indebted to Dr. J. F. O'Connell for referring this patient. 1970H. McLeave Question of Negligence xxii. 186 She did consult me, but she was referred by someone else. 1973Guardian 9 Mar. 13/2 The slum Doctor round the corner who never examines his patients before referring them. 1973Listener 19 Apr. 507/1 They're all referred by the GP... They're all psycho⁓geriatrics. 1976Women's Report Sept./Oct. 2/1 Yet the clinic makes use of the NHS because all clients needing surgery or expensive treatment have to be referred back to NHS hospitals or clinics. 9. To relate, recount, report, record. Now rare.
1568Grafton Chron. II. 733 King Edward aunswered that..he woulde referre and report the truth to him. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 81/2 In that meane time he builded a strong castle,..which some referre to be builded in his second returne into Wales. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. Ad Sect. ii. §8 So it happened..as she related to her Cousin Elizabeth, and so it happened not to be as she referred to her husband Joseph. a1825Prince Robert x. in Child Ballads II. 286/2 With sichin and sabbin and wringing his hands, No message he could refer. 1851Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. i. 136 So keep your stone..To cover up your grave-place and refer The proper titles! †10. To hand over, give, transfer. Also refl. Obs.
c1611Chapman Iliad xxiv. 111 Juno did receive Her entry with a cup of gold, in which she drank to her,..and the cup did to her hand refer. 1611Shakes. Cymb. i. i. 6 His daughter, and the heire of's kingdome..hath referr'd her selfe Vnto a poore but worthy Gentleman. 1705in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 83 It is order'd in Councell that to encourage a horse race to be run at y⊇ Waterside, tenne guineas be referr'd to Mr. Mayr for one year. II. Intransitive senses. †11. To return, recur to some person or thing.
c1374Chaucer Troylus i. 210 (266) As touchyng þis matere, For I it gan, I wil þer-to refere. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 78 To Phebus my wittes gan refere, And on this wise he sayde to me [etc.]. 12. a. To have reference or relation to a thing; esp. to have allusion, to apply, to.
c1386Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 530 To go to the conclusioun That refereth to thy confusioun. 1530Palsgr. 322/1 Refarryng one to another, relatif. 1647Crashaw Poems 149 Awake, my glory, soul, if such thou be, And that fair word at all refer to thee. 1678Moxon Mech. Exerc. No. 6. 107, I marked some Terms in Joynery with superiour Letters..intending at the latter end of these Exercises to have explained the Terms those Letters referr'd to. 1718Atterbury Serm. (1734) I. vii. 196 Breaking of Bread: A Phrase, which in the Acts manifestly referrs to the Eucharist. 1791Burke App. Whigs Wks. VI. 134 All such institutions..must originate from their Crown, and in all their proceedings must refer to it. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. xxi. 345 My measurements refer to the ice at and near the surface. 1891E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 314 His words referred to Mildred only. †b. To have relationship to one. Obs.—1
1640Bp. Reynolds Passions xxxi, [This is] the reason why this difference between men nearly referring each to other should work a greater anger between them. †c. To matter, be of consequence to a thing.
1677Gale Crt. Gentiles iv. 437 Either because he conceives it no way refers to the whole, if small things are neglected: or, if he thinkes it doth refer, yet..he neglectes it. d. To make reference or allusion, to give a reference, direct the attention, to something.
1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. lx, Any other Engine..than this I have referred to. 1725Pope Wks. Shaks. I. Pref. p. xxii, Some suspected passages..are degraded to the bottom of the page; with an Asterisk referring to the places of their insertion. 1828Macaulay Hallam's Const. Hist. Wks. 1898 VII. 317 With all deference to the eminent writers to whom we have referred, we may venture to say [etc.]. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. ix. 61, I at length found myself on the peak referred to. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 422 He refers to passages of his personal history. †13. To suggest, or leave, to a person to do something. Obs. rare.
1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxxiii. 156 Ordinances, which I passe with silence, referring vnto the reader, to see that which Plutarch hath written. 1586J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 162/2 The lord iustice sent his letters..to the earle of Desmond, for his repaire vnto him,..referring vnto him to come either to Cashell or to Limerike. 1645Whitelocke Memorials 1 Aug., The house referred to the committee of the army to audit their arrears. 14. To have recourse, make application, to a thing; to turn or appeal to for some purpose.
1595Daniel Civ. Wars ii. xxxiii, Doe but referre to time, and to small time; And infinite occasions you shall finde. 1813Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) XI. 51 He is to refer to and obey all orders of the army referrible to the mode of treating the Spanish Colonel. 1849Dickens Dav. Copp. xvi, ‘Mother will be expecting me,’ he said, referring to a..watch in his pocket. Hence reˈferring vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1572Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 165 Notwithstanding the referring interpretatioun and declaratioun foirsaid. 1611Cotgr., Renvoy,..a referring from one vnto another. 1628T. Spencer Logick 168 The predication it selfe is no more, but an absolute referring of a thing signified, vnto the subiect. 1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 392 The Contents..are generally set in Italic..; with the referring figures justified to the ends of the respective lines. 1950P. F. Strawson in Mind LIX. 320 We very commonly use expressions of certain kinds to mention or refer to some individual person or single object or particular event or place or process... I shall call this way of using expressions the ‘uniquely referring use’. Ibid. 326 ‘Mentioning’, or ‘referring’, is not something an expression does; it is something that some one can use an expression to do.
Add:[I.] [6.] d. Phr. refer to drawer: on a cheque, a bank's instruction to the payee to send back to the drawer a cheque that cannot be honoured. Abbrev. R.D. s.v. R II. 2 a.
1881Jrnl. Inst. Bankers II. 367 Returning a cheque unpaid, marked with one of the usual answers—‘Not provided for’, ‘Refer to drawer’ &c. 1911W. Thomson Dict. Banking 440/2 ‘Refer to drawer’, is a milder form of answer than ‘N/S’, ‘not sufficient’. 1971Reader's Digest Family Guide to Law 316/2 A ‘bounced’ cheque is one that is returned to the person who paid it in with the words ‘refer to drawer’ or R/D on it. 1987Daily Tel. 31 Jan. 33/1 Banks return cheques marked either ‘refer to drawer’, or ‘refer to drawer, please represent’... The first implies ‘There is no way we are going to pay.’ |