Etymology of the English word referent
the English word referent
derived from the Latin word referens
derived from the Medieval Latin word referre (bring, carry back, again; give, pay back, render; it matters, makes a difference, is of importance; report , bring back news; record)
derived from the Latin word ferre (to carry; to bear; bring, bear; tell)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bher-
using the Latin prefix re-