diff --git a/Doc/ref/ref4.tex b/Doc/ref/ref4.tex
index 2f2e1c82700..151b0ae2f9a 100644
--- a/Doc/ref/ref4.tex
+++ b/Doc/ref/ref4.tex
@@ -119,6 +119,14 @@ overridden with optional extra arguments.
 
 \end{description}
 
+The built-in function \verb@vars()@ returns a dictionary representing
+the current local name space.  The effect of modifications to this
+dictionary on the name space are undefined.%
+\footnote{The current implementation returns the dictionary actually
+used to implement the name space, {\em except} for functions, where
+the optimizer may cause the local name space to be implemented
+differently.}
+
 \section{Exceptions}
 
 Exceptions are a means of breaking out of the normal flow of control
diff --git a/Doc/ref/ref6.tex b/Doc/ref/ref6.tex
index f0f318fb71f..afd9822b7dc 100644
--- a/Doc/ref/ref6.tex
+++ b/Doc/ref/ref6.tex
@@ -524,6 +524,7 @@ global and the local variables.  If two expressions are given, both
 must be dictionaries and they are used for the global and local
 variables, respectively.
 
-Note: dynamic evaluation of expressions is supported by the built-in
-function \verb@eval@.
-
+Hints: dynamic evaluation of expressions is supported by the built-in
+function \verb@eval()@.  The built-in function \verb@vars()@ returns
+the current local dictionary, which may be useful to pass around for
+use by \verb@exec@.
diff --git a/Doc/ref4.tex b/Doc/ref4.tex
index 2f2e1c82700..151b0ae2f9a 100644
--- a/Doc/ref4.tex
+++ b/Doc/ref4.tex
@@ -119,6 +119,14 @@ overridden with optional extra arguments.
 
 \end{description}
 
+The built-in function \verb@vars()@ returns a dictionary representing
+the current local name space.  The effect of modifications to this
+dictionary on the name space are undefined.%
+\footnote{The current implementation returns the dictionary actually
+used to implement the name space, {\em except} for functions, where
+the optimizer may cause the local name space to be implemented
+differently.}
+
 \section{Exceptions}
 
 Exceptions are a means of breaking out of the normal flow of control
diff --git a/Doc/ref6.tex b/Doc/ref6.tex
index f0f318fb71f..afd9822b7dc 100644
--- a/Doc/ref6.tex
+++ b/Doc/ref6.tex
@@ -524,6 +524,7 @@ global and the local variables.  If two expressions are given, both
 must be dictionaries and they are used for the global and local
 variables, respectively.
 
-Note: dynamic evaluation of expressions is supported by the built-in
-function \verb@eval@.
-
+Hints: dynamic evaluation of expressions is supported by the built-in
+function \verb@eval()@.  The built-in function \verb@vars()@ returns
+the current local dictionary, which may be useful to pass around for
+use by \verb@exec@.