Respondit

Respondit is a Latin verb form meaning “he/she/it answered.” It is the third-person singular perfect indicative of the verb respondere, which means to answer or to reply. In Latin narrative and dialogue, respondit is used to report a completed act of answering.

In grammar, respondere belongs to the second conjugation in Latin. The perfect tense is formed from the stem respond- with the suffix -it for the third-person singular, giving respondit as the past tense form. The corresponding present tense form is respondet, meaning “he/she/it answers.” The infinitive is respondere, and the noun form responsum means “a reply” or “an answer,” both sharing the same root.

Respondit occurs frequently in classical Latin texts to convey a reply to a question or a statement in past time. A simple example is Marcus respondit, which translates to “Marcus answered.” The form is typically found in historical narration, dialogues, and reported speech, where it marks a completed verbal action rather than a present ongoing one.

Etymologically, respondere derives from a base combining re- with spondere, the latter related to promising or pledging in some Latin sources. The term respondit thus embodies the core meaning of giving an answer or response in the past tense.

See also: respondere, respondet, responsum.