Definition of refer to

The origin of the word "refer to" can be traced back to the Middle English language, around the 14th century. It is a compound word, made up of two smaller words - "re" and "ferre." "Re" is a preposition used to indicate motion towards, or to a place. In Old French, which was the predominant language spoken in medieval England, the word is "erre," meaning "to bring" or "to carry." This word evolved into "ferre" in Middle English, which means "to bring" or "to carry back." "Ferre" was frequently used as a reflexive pronoun in Middle English, meaning "to bring or carry back oneself" or "to refer to oneself or to one's own knowledge." In the context of "refer to," it means "to direct one's attention to a previously mentioned topic." The term "refer to" began to be used increasingly in the 17th century, as English evolved into its modern form. It continues to be a commonly used phrase in written and spoken English today, indicating a directive to focus one's attention back on a particular topic.