Part 274

Re*sponse" (r?*sp?ns"), n. [OF. response, respons, F. réponse, from L. responsum, from respondere. See Respond.] 1. The act of responding.

2. An answer or reply. Specifically: (a) Reply to an objection in formal disputation. I. Watts. (b) (Eccl.) The answer of the people or congregation to the priest or clergyman, in the litany and other parts of divine service. (c) (R.C.Ch.) A kind of anthem sung after the lessons of matins and some other parts of the office. (d) (Mus.) A repetition of the given subject in a fugue by another part on the fifth above or fourth below. Busby.

Re*sponse"less, a. Giving no response.

Re*spon`si*bil"i*ty (r?*sp?n`s?*b?l"?*t?), n.; pl. -ties (-t&?;z). [Cf. F. responsabilité.] 1. The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable, as for a trust, debt, or obligation.

2. That for which anyone is responsible or accountable; as, the resonsibilities of power.

3. Ability to answer in payment; means of paying.

Re*spon"si*ble (r?*sp?n"s?*b'l), a. [Cf. F. responsable. See Respond.] 1. Liable to respond; likely to be called upon to answer; accountable; answerable; amenable; as, a guardian is responsible to the court for his conduct in the office.

2. Able to respond or answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy, financially or otherwise; as, to have a responsible man for surety.

3. Involving responsibility; involving a degree of accountability on the part of the person concerned; as, a responsible office.

Syn. -- Accountable; answerable; amenable.

-- Re*spon"si*ble*ness, n. -- Re*spon"si*bly, adv.

Re*spon"sion (-sh?n), n. [L. responsio. See Respond.] 1. The act of answering. [Obs.]

2. (University of Oxford) The first university examination; -- called also little go. See under Little, a.

Re*spon"sive (-s?v), a. [Cf. F. resposif.] 1. That responds; ready or inclined to respond.

2. Suited to something else; correspondent.

The vocal lay responsive to the strings.

Pope.

3. Responsible. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

-- Re*spon"sive*ly, adv. -- Re*spon"sive*ness, n.

Re`spon*so"ri*al (r?`sp?n*s?"r?-al), a. Responsory; antiphonal. J. H. Newman.

Re*spon"so*ry (r?*sp?n"s?*r?), a. Containing or making answer; answering. Johnson.

Re*spon"so*ry, n.; pl. - ries (-r&?;z). [LL. responsorium.] 1. (Eccl.) (a) The answer of the people to the priest in alternate speaking, in church service. (b) A versicle sung in answer to the priest, or as a refrain.

Which, if should repeat again, would turn my answers into responsories, and beget another liturgy.

Milton.

2. (Eccl.) An antiphonary; a response book.

Rest (r?st), v. t. [For arrest.] To arrest. [Obs.]

Rest, n. [AS. rest, ræst, rest; akin to D. rust, G. rast. OHG. rasta, Dan. & Sw. rast rest, repose, Icel. röst the distance between two resting places, a mole, Goth. rasta a mile, also to Goth. razn house, Icel. rann, and perhaps to G. ruhe rest, repose, AS. rw, Gr. 'erwh`. Cf. Ransack.] 1. A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. Chaucer.

Sleep give thee all his rest!