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referee (n.)

1620s, an official position, "person who examines patent applications" (see refer), a sense now obsolete. By 1660s as "one to whom any matter in question is referred for decision, an umpire." Also in legal use, "person selected under authority of law to try a case in place of the court" (1680s). Sporting use is recorded by 1820 (specifically of baseball from 1856).

referee (v.)

"preside over as a referee or umpire," 1883, originally colloquial, from referee (n.). Related: Refereed; refereeing.

Entries related to referee

refer (v.)

late 14c., referren, "to trace back (a quality, etc., to a first cause or origin), attribute, assign," from Old French referer (14c.) and directly from Latin referre "to relate, refer," literally "to carry back," from re- "back" (see re-) + ferre "to carry, bear" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children").

The meaning "to commit to some authority for consideration and decision" is from mid-15c.; sense of "to direct (someone) to a book, etc." for information is from c. 1600. Related: Referred; referring.

ref 
1899 (n.), 1929 (v.); short for referee. Related: Reffed; reffing.

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Definitions of referee from WordNet
1
referee (n.)
someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication;
Synonyms: reviewer / reader
referee (n.)
an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case;
referee (n.)
(sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play;
Synonyms: ref
2
referee (v.)
be a referee or umpire in a sports competition;
Synonyms: umpire
referee (v.)
evaluate professionally a colleague's work;
Synonyms: peer review
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near referee

ref

refashion

refasten

refectory

refer

referee

reference

referendum

referent

referential

referral

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