responsibility
Meaning
the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something.
a thing which one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation.
Structure
Usage
she took full responsibility for the project's failure.
parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their children receive an education.
with great power comes great responsibility.
Etymology
the word 'responsibility' is a modern formation built upon the older english word 'responsible'. it traces its core to the latin verb 'spondere', meaning "to pledge or promise solemnly". the prefix 're-' adds the sense of "back" or "in return", creating the idea of a pledge given back or an answer owed. the suffix '-ibility' transforms the adjective 'responsible' into a noun denoting the state or condition of being answerable. thus, the literal "state of being pledged back" evolved into the modern abstract concept of having duties one is accountable for fulfilling.
Analysis
- re: (latin) a prefix meaning "again" or "back". - spons: (latin) from the root of 'spondere', meaning "to pledge, promise, answer". - ibility: (latin) a noun-forming suffix indicating a state, quality, or condition, a variant of '-ability'.