Etymograph

English

reference list

reference + list

A compound of reference + list

Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ‘to bear, carry’

…

Latin referō ‘to carry back; to return, reply’

Latin referēns ‘returning’

Medieval Latin referentia

Middle French référence

English reference

Middle English lī̆st ‘band’

English list

Today it means

noun The list of sources used or considered in preparing a work.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “reference list”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / reference list

Shirt and support for this word