Definition of reference book

The term "reference book" emerged in the late 19th century, reflecting the growing importance of specialized information sources. "Reference" comes from the Latin "referre," meaning "to bring back" or "to report." This concept of referring to a source for information was central to the development of dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other information-gathering tools. "Book" simply denotes the physical format of these information sources, emphasizing their role as written repositories of knowledge. The combination of "reference" and "book" thus highlights their function as sources of information that are consulted for specific purposes.