response

Where does the word "response" come from? It comes from Latin spondere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Response’s story begins in Latin: spondere meant “to promise.” To promise, combined with re- (back). Within Latin, it grew into respondere by ancient. To promise back, to answer, from re- and spondere. By ancient, Latin speakers had reshaped it into responsum. An answer, from respondere. It reached English by 1300s as response. Settled as the English word for an answer or reaction to something. Today, response means a spoken or written answer, or a reaction to something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient spondere "to promise", to promise, combined with re- (back).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient respondere "to promise back, to answer", to promise back, to answer, from re- and spondere.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient responsum "an answer", an answer, from respondere.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s response "an answer or reaction to something", settled as the English word for an answer or reaction to something.