Reference Bible, a Bible in which brief explanations, and references to
parallel passages, are printed in the margin of the text.
Ref`er*en"da*ry (r?f`?r*?n"d?*r?), n. [LL. referendarius, fr. L.
referendus to be referred, gerundive of referre: cf. F. référendaire.
See Refer.] 1. One to whose decision a cause is referred; a referee.
[Obs.] Bacon.
2. An officer who delivered the royal answer to petitions.
"Referendaries, or masters of request." Harmar.
3. Formerly, an officer of state charged with the duty of procuring and
dispatching diplomas and decrees.
||Ref`er*en"dum (r?f`?r*?n"d?m), n. [Gerundive fr. L. referre. See
||Refer.] 1. A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his
||government concerning a particular matter or point.
2. The right to approve or reject by popular vote a meassure passed
upon by a legislature.
Ref`er*en"tial (-shal), a. Containing a reference; pointing to
something out of itself; as, notes for referential use. --
Ref`er*en"tial*ly, adv.
Re*fer"ment (r?*f?r"ment), n. The act of referring; reference. Laud.
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Re`-fer*ment" (r&?;`f&?;r*m&?;nt"), v. t. & i. To ferment, or cause to
ferment, again. Blackmore.
Re*fer"rer (r?*f?r"r?r), n. One who refers.
Re*fer"ri*ble (-r?*b'l), a. Referable. Hallam.
Re*fig"ure (r?*f?g"?r), v. t. To figure again. Shak.
Re*fill" (r?*f?l"), v. t. & i. To fill, or become full, again.
Re*find" (r?*f?nd), v. t. To find again; to get or experience again.
Sandys.
Re*fine" (r?*f?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refined (-find"); p. pr. & vb.
n. Refining.] [Pref. re- + fine to make fine: cf. F. raffiner.] 1. To
reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities; to
free from dross or alloy; to separate from extraneous matter; to
purify; to defecate; as, to refine gold or silver; to refine iron; to
refine wine or sugar.
I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them
as silver is refined.
Zech. xiii. 9.
2. To purify from what is gross, coarse, vulgar, inelegant, low, and
the like; to make elegant or exellent; to polish; as, to refine the
manners, the language, the style, the taste, the intellect, or the
moral feelings.
Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges.
Milton.
Syn. -- To purify; clarify; polish; ennoble.
Re*fine", v. i. 1. To become pure; to be cleared of feculent matter.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains, Works itself
clear, and, as it runs, refines.
Addison.