responsible English · revision 2715

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1599, Ben Jonson|origins=la respondeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /rɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl/, US /rɪˈspɑːn.sə.bəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|responsible]], now obsolete (modern French responsable),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|respōnsus]], past participle of [[m|la|respondēre|t=to respond, answer to, promise in return]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|re-|t=back]] and [[m|la|spondēre|t=to pledge]],^(Etymonline) the source of [[respond]] and [[sponsor]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) English had the earlier form responsable.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Corresponding or answering to something: 1599, in Ben Jonson's ''Every Man out of His Humour'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Merriam-Webster dates the word to about 1559.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Answerable, accountable” to someone for something is from 1643,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the 1640s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and keeps the sense of obligation in the Latin verb.^(Etymonline) “Reliable, trustworthy” is from 1691, in Locke,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and “involving obligations or duties”, as in ''a responsible position'', from 1855.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Morally accountable, capable of rational conduct, is from 1836,^(OED 1989) and ''responsible government'' from 1839.^(OED 1989) ''Responsibility'' is from 1787, in Hamilton's ''Federalist''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1599 – corresponding.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1643 – answerable, accountable.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1691 – reliable, trustworthy.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1787 – ''responsibility''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1836 – morally accountable.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1855 – involving duties.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Obliged to answer for one's actions or for a duty or trust; [[accountable]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Being the cause or source of something: ''the storm was responsible for the damage''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Able to make moral or rational decisions; [[trustworthy]], reliable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Involving important duties or decisions: ''a responsible job''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[responsibleness]]

+ * [[responsibly]]

+ * [[nonresponsible]]

+ * [[superresponsible]]

+ * [[unresponsible]]

+ * [[irresponsible]]

+ * [[responsibility]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[respond]]

+ * [[response]]

+ * [[sponsor]]

+ * [[spouse]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Some critics hold that ''responsible'' should apply only to persons, who can be held accountable, but its use of things in the sense “being the cause of” is well established.^(AHD) ''Responsible'' and ''answerable'' imply an obligation that can be enforced by an authority, while ''liable'' stresses the possibility of a penalty.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}