non-referential
|non-ref-er-en-tial|
C1
/nɒnˌrɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/
lacking specific reference
Etymology
Etymology Information
'non-referential' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'referential' from Latin 'referre' meaning 'to bring back or refer'.
Historical Evolution
'Referential' evolved from the Latin 'referre' through Old French 'referer' and Middle English 'referen', eventually becoming 'referential'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'referential' meant 'relating to a reference', and 'non-referential' evolved to mean 'not relating to a specific reference'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not referring to or indicating a specific person, place, or thing.
The term 'it' is often used in a non-referential way.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45