Standard Lemma guide

respondentia

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A loan upon goods laden on board a ship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: business, commerce, commercial, law

Examples

  • 1831, William Selwyn, Henry Wheaton (notes to the decisions), Thomas I. Wharton (additional notes), An Abridgement of the Law of Nisi Prius, Volume 2, 4th American Edition, page 230, In the case of a loan, the money is at the risk of the borrower, and must be repaid at all events. But where money is lent on bottomry or respondentia, the money is at the risk of the lender during the voyage.
  • 1999 [1880], John Bouvier, Daniel A. Gleason, Institutes of American Law, Volume 1, New Edition, page 311, The contract is called respondentia because the money is lent on the personal security of the borrower. It differs from bottomry principally in the following circumstances: bottomry is a loan on the ship, respondentia on the goods; the money is to be repaid to the lender, with maritime interest, in the one case upon the arrival of the ship, and of the goods in the other. In all other respects the contracts are nearly the same, and are governed by the same principles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin respondentia; see also respondence.