respondere

Respondere is a Latin verb meaning "to answer" or "to respond." It is a member of the second conjugation and appears widely in classical Latin texts, spanning legal, rhetorical, philosophical, and everyday discourse. The verb denotes giving a reply, an answer, or a response, and it forms a range of tenses, voices, and moods.

Etymology and principal parts: The form respondēre is traditionally analyzed as built from re- ("back" or "again") and spondere ("to pledge" or "to promise"), conveying the idea of replying in return. The standard principal parts are respondēre, respondeō, respondī, responsum, which supply the present, perfect, and supine stems for conjugation.

Conjugation overview: As a second-conjugation verb, its present active indicative is respondeō; imperfect forms appear as respondēbam and other regular endings, and the future as respondēbō. The perfect active is respondī, with the supine form responsum. Passive forms exist with standard passive endings and the perfect participle responsus, with corresponding passive tenses.

Usage: In Latin, respondere appears in contexts ranging from direct speech to indirect discourse, often with an object or clause expressing what is being answered. Example phrases include "responde mihi" ("answer me") and "respondit" ("he answered"). The verb can take various grammatical complements, including indirect statements, questions, and subordinate clauses.

Legacy in English: The English verbs "respond" and the noun "response" ultimately derive from respondere, passing into English through Latin and French. Related terms such as "responsible" and the noun "responsum" (a reply) reflect the same Latin root.