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responsum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word responsum

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Terence
Ultimate origin
Latin (respondeō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin responsum
English response

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛsˈpõː.sũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [resˈpɔn.sum][1]

Forms

respōnsum n (genitive respōnsī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the participle of respondeō “to answer”, used as a noun.[2][3] Respondeō is from re- and spondeō “to pledge”.[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Terence uses it of an oracle's answer, saying no reply of Apollo is truer.[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It was an answer or reply, and one given by a ruler or the senate to envoys, as Cicero says the senate gave Sopater no answer.[2][5] It was the answer of an oracle or soothsayer, and the opinion of a jurisconsult on a point of law.[2][5] Livy uses respōnsum ferōx of a defiant answer.[6]

In medieval Latin it was a reply in a lawsuit, a defence and the lawsuit itself.[7] English response is recorded around 1300.[3]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of an oracle.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a reply and of a jurist's opinion.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English response is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An answer, reply, response.[2][8]
  2. The answer of an oracle or soothsayer.[2][5]
  3. A jurist's opinion on a point of law.[2][5]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A plea in defence; a lawsuit.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press

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Cite this entry

“Responsum.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/responsum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·