Emily Dickinson Lexicon

REF'ER-ENCE, n.

1. A sending, dismission or direction to another for information. – Swift.
2. Relation; respect; view toward. The Christian religion commands sobriety, temperance, and moderation, in reference to our appetites and passions. – Tillotson.
3. Allusion to. In his observations he had no reference to the case which has been stated.
4. In law, the process of assigning a cause depending in court, for a hearing and decision, to persons appointed by the court.