/ri spond"/ , v.i.
1. to reply or answer in words: to respond briefly to a question.
2. to make a return by some action as if in answer: to respond generously to a charity drive.
3. to react favorably.
4. Physiol. to exhibit some action or effect as if in answer; react: Nerves respond to a stimulus.
5. to correspond (usually fol. by to ).
6. Bridge. to make a response.
v.t.
7. to say in answer; reply.
n.
8. Archit. a half pier, pilaster, or the like projecting from a wall as a support for a lintel or an arch, the other side of which is supported on a free-standing pier or column.
9. Eccles.
a. a short anthem chanted at intervals during the reading of a lection.
b. responsory.
c. response.
[ 1350-1400; (n.) ME: responsory respondre to respond respondere to promise in return, reply, answer, equiv. to re- RE- + spondere to pledge, promise (see SPONSOR); (v.) respondere ]
Syn. 1. rejoin. 2. rise, react, reply.