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eatment, aid, infirmation, decision, etc.; to make over, or pass over, to another; as, to refer a student to an author; to refer a beggar to an officer; to refer a bill to a committee; a court refers a matter of fact to a commissioner for investigation, or refers a question of law to a superior tribunal.…

Capable of being referred, or considered in relation to something else; assignable; ascribable. [Written also referrible.] It is a question among philosophers, whether all the attractions which obtain between bodies are referable to one general cause. W. Nicholson.

One to whom a thing is referred; a person to whom a matter in dispute has been referred, in order that he may settle it.

The act of referring, or the state of being referred; as, reference to a chart for quidance.

One to whose decision a cause is referred; a referee. [Obs.] Bacon.

A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point.

Containing a reference; pointing to something out of itself; as, notes for referential use. -- Ref`er*en"tial*ly, adv.

The act of referring; reference. Laud.

One who refers.

Referable. Hallam.

especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. Pope. Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Shak. Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. Byron.

The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.

Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.

The quality or state of being preferable.

In preference; by choice. To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. Dennis.

The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference. Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of p…

Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.

ing, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices togeth…

The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.] Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other. Sir T. Browne.

One who prefers.