referee

Meanings

Noun

• An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
• A person who settles a dispute.
• A person who writes a letter of reference or provides a reference by phone call for someone.
• An expert who judges the manuscript of an article or book to decide if it should be published.

Verb

• To act as a referee.

Origin

• From Middle English, from past participle of Old French referer ("to relate, to refer"), from Latin refero ("to carry back, to report, to notify"); as if refer + -ee, that is, the person to whom something is referred for consideration.