1580s, "act of referring," from refer + -ance, or else from French référence, from Medieval Latin *referentia, from Latin referentem (nominative referens), present participle of referre (see refer). Meaning "direction to a book or passage" is recorded from 1610s. Meaning "testimonial" is from 1895. Reference book dates from 1808. Phrase in reference to is attested from 1590s.
reference (v.)
1620s, "to assign;" as "to provide with a reference," 1837 (implied in referenced), from reference (n.). Related: Referencing.
权威例句
1. Read these notes carefully and keep them for future reference.
仔细阅读这些注释并将其保留下来以备将来之用。
2. No reference to their existence appears in any literature of the period.
这一时期的文学作品中都没有提及他们的存在。
3. I'm calling in reference to your series on prejudice.
我打电话是要谈谈你写的有关“偏见”的系列文章。
4. The details are filed away by his three secretaries for future reference.
他的3个秘书已经把详细情况归档备查。
5. We know we're dealing with someone with a different frame of reference.