the word 'unresponsive' is a modern english formation built upon the established adjective 'responsive'. its core, 'respons', originates from the latin verb 'respondere', meaning "to answer or promise in return," which itself is a compound of 're-' (back) and 'spondere' (to pledge). the suffix '-ive' was added in late latin to create adjectives denoting a tendency or capacity. the negative prefix 'un-', of old english origin, was later attached to negate the quality, creating a term that literally means "not having the nature of answering back." this etymological journey from a concrete pledge or answer to a modern abstract sense of lacking reaction illustrates a logical semantic expansion.

Structure: un (not) + respons (answer, react) + ive (adjective suffix) - un: a prefix of germanic origin, meaning "not," used to form negatives. - respons: from latin 'responsus', the past participle of 'respondere', meaning "to answer, reply, promise in return." - ive: a suffix of latin origin ('-ivus'), used to form adjectives meaning "having the nature or quality of."