Respondent
/rɪˈspɒn.dənt/noun
A person who answers a question or reply in a legal case or survey.
Did you know?Respondent comes from Latin *respondentem*, the present participle of *respondēre*, which originally meant to answer or promise in return—so in old legal and rhetorical contexts, speech itself carried the force of obligation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spend-
“to make a libation, perform a ritual offering, or pledge solemnly”
Latin
Latin
respondēre
“to answer, reply, or pledge in return”
Latin
Latin
respondentem
“answering; making a reply”
Old French
Old French
respondre
“to answer, reply”
Middle English
English
respondent
“one who answers or replies, especially in law”