Ref"er*ence (r?f"?r-ens), n. [See
Refer.] 1. The act of referring, or the
state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for
guidance.
2. That which refers to something; a specific
direction of the attention; as, a reference in a text-
book.
3. Relation; regard; respect.
Something that hath a reference to my
state.
Shak.
4. One who, or that which, is referred
to. Specifically; (a) One of whom inquires
can be made as to the integrity, capacity, and the like, of
another. (b) A work, or a passage in a
work, to which one is referred.
5. (Law) (a) The act of
submitting a matter in dispute to the judgment of one or more persons
for decision. (b) (Equity) The
process of sending any matter, for inquiry in a cause, to a master or
other officer, in order that he may ascertain facts and report to the
court.
6. Appeal. [R.] "Make your full
reference." Shak.
Reference Bible, a Bible in which brief
explanations, and references to parallel passages, are printed in the
margin of the text.