response
UK[rɪˈspɒns]US[rɪˈspɑːns]
n
something said or done as a reaction to something else
n
a part of a religious service said or sung by a congregation in answer to the priest or minister
n
a reaction of a living organism to a stimulus
Morpheme Breakdown
re
sponse
re
again, back
sponse
to promise, to answer
Etymology
The word 'response' originates from the Latin verb respondēre, meaning "to answer, to promise in return," which is itself a compound of the prefix re- ("back, again") and the verb spondēre ("to pledge, promise"). This etymological construction literally conveys the idea of "a promise given back." The semantic core of a pledge or solemn promise evolved through Old French into the broader, more general English meaning of any answer or reaction. Thus, the modern abstract sense of a 'response' as a reply or reaction retains the original logic of something given back in return to an initial question, call, or stimulus.
Analysis
Structure: re (again, back) + sponse (to promise, to answer)
- re: Latin prefix meaning "again, back, in return".
- sponse: From Latin root spond- (to promise, to pledge), as seen in the verb spondere.
Examples
Her immediate response to the question was a firm "no."
The patient showed a positive response to the new treatment.
The software provides a visual response when you click the button.