v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Responded; p. pr. & vb. n. Responding. ] [ OF. respondre, F. répondre, fr. L. respondere, responsum; pref. re- re- + spondere to promise. See Sponsor. ] 1. To say something in return; to answer; to reply; as, to respond to a question or an argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To show some effect in return to a force; to act in response; to accord; to correspond; to suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

A new affliction strings a new cord in the heart, which responds to some new note of complaint within the wide scale of human woe. Buckminster. [ 1913 Webster ]

To every theme responds thy various lay. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To render satisfaction; to be answerable; as, the defendant is held to respond in damages. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To answer; reply; rejoin. See Reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To answer; to reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To suit or accord with; to correspond to. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For his great deeds respond his speeches great. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An answer; a response. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) A short anthem sung at intervals during the reading of a chapter. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) A half pier or pillar attached to a wall to support an arch. Oxf. Gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The act of responding; the state of being respondent; an answering. A. Chalmers. [ 1913 Webster ]

The angelical soft trembling voice made
To the instruments divine respondence meet. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. respondens, p. pr. of respondere. ] Disposed or expected to respond; answering; according; corresponding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wealth respondent to payment and contributions. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. répondant. ] One who responds. It corresponds in general to defendant. Specifically: (a) (Law) One who answers in certain suits or proceedings, generally those which are not according to the course of the common law, as in equity and admiralty causes, in petitions for partition, and the like; -- distinquished from appellant. (b) One who maintains a thesis in reply, and whose province it is to refute objections, or overthrow arguments; -- distinguished from opponent. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Respondence. ] (Commercial Law) A loan upon goods laden on board a ship. It differs from bottomry, which is a loan on the ship itself. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]