correspondere

Correspondere is a Latin verb of the second conjugation meaning to correspond in several related senses: to answer or respond to someone or something; to be in agreement or in harmony with something; and to correspond to or match something. The sense “to exchange letters” appears in later or more rhetorical contexts as part of the broader idea of sending and receiving communication.

Etymology and formation: correspondere is formed from the prefix con- (often realized as cor- before r) attached to respondere, the base verb meaning “to answer.” The resulting compound emphasizes a mutual or fitting relation, such as a reply that fits a question or a thing that agrees with another. The word gave rise to the English verb correspond (and its related nouns and adjectives), as well as to many Romance-language cognates such as French correspondre, Italian corrispondere, Spanish corresponder, and Portuguese corresponder.

Usage and senses: in classical Latin, correspondere commonly means to answer a question or to respond to a person. It can also mean to agree with or to be in accord with a statement, rule, or standard, and in some contexts to correspond to or match a description, measure, or expectation. The broader sense of exchanging correspondence or letters appears in later Latin and in ecclesiastical and diplomatic Latin, mirroring the modern idea of correspondence as communication over distance.

Derivatives and influence: the term influenced English through Old French and Early Modern Latin, yielding correspond, correspondence, correspondent, and corresponding. It remains a classic example of a compound verb built from con- plus respondere, illustrating how Latin forms evolve into modern Romance languages and English.