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responsibly

UK[rɪˈspɒnsəbli]US[rɪˈspɑːnsəbli]
adv

in a way that shows good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own

adv

in a way that involves being responsible for someone or something

Morpheme Breakdown

response
ible
ly
response

answer

ible

capable of

ly

adverb suffix

Etymology

the word 'responsibly' is built upon the core concept of 'response', which originates from the latin verb 'respondere', meaning 'to answer or promise in return'. this verb itself is composed of 're-' (back) and 'spondere' (to pledge). the suffix '-ible' was added to form the adjective 'responsible', shifting the meaning from a simple answer to the quality of being answerable or accountable for one's actions. finally, the old english adverbial suffix '-ly' was appended, creating the modern adverb that describes the manner of acting with accountability and sound judgment. the evolution traces a path from a concrete act of replying to an abstract concept of ethical duty and reliability.

Analysis

Structure: response (answer) + ible (capable of) + ly (adverb suffix) response (from latin 'responsum', meaning 'an answer', functioning as the core noun root); ible (from latin suffix '-ibilis', meaning 'capable of', functioning as an adjective-forming suffix); ly (from old english '-lice', forming adverbs from adjectives, functioning as an adverb-forming suffix)

Examples

she manages the company's finances very responsibly.

we must all act responsibly to protect the environment.

he promised to use the information responsibly and confidentially.

responsibly – Meaning, Etymology & Word Origin | OpenEtymology