Missive and Reference

Missive

Missive noun - A message on paper from one person or group to another.

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Reference and missive are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Reference" instead a noun "Missive".

Nearby Word: mission

Reference noun - Something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information.

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Missive and reference are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Missive" instead a noun "Reference".

massive	massive missive	massive reference
last	last missive	last reference

The most consistent explanation for the origin of the word is that a light-hearted reference to Fremlin's Ales in a missive from an airfield commander got mis-typed, i.e.

Source: Newer Than They Think

Cite this Source

Reference and Missive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/missive/reference

Missive & Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/missive/reference>.

Reference or Missive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/missive/reference.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "missive" and "reference" have occurred on timeline