Where does “reference work” come from?
reference work (English) comes from English reference, from Middle French référence, from Medieval Latin referentia, from Latin referēns, from Latin referō, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō- — passed , crossed.
reference work (English): A compendium of information which is not intended...
Definitions
- A compendium of information which is not intended...
Ancestry of “reference work”, step by step
reference work traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English reference
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | reference | A relationship or relation; A measurement one can... |
| 2 | Middle French | référence | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | referentia | nominative neuter plural of referēns; accusative... |
| 4 | Latin | referēns | returning, restoring, repaying |
| 5 | Latin | referō | to bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |