Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-FER', v.t. [L. refero; re and fero, to bear; Fr. referrer; It. referire; Sp. and Port. referir.]

1. To direct, leave or deliver over to another person or tribunal for information or decision; as when parties to a suit refer their cause to another court; or the court refers a cause to individuals for examination and report. A person whose opinion is requested, sometimes refers the inquirer to another person or other source of information.
2. To reduce as to the ultimate end. You profess and practice to refer all things to yourself. – Bacon.
3. To reduce; to assign; as, to an order, genus or class. Naturalists are sometimes at a loss to know to what class or genus an animal or plant is to be referred. To refer one's self, to betake; to apply. [Little used.] – Shak.