Standard Lemma guide

responsory

adj · noun · 3 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.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rĭ-spŏn′s(ə)rē
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈspɒn.s(ə)ɹi/
  • General-American: /ɹɪˈspɑn.sə.ɹi/
  • rhymes with -ɒnsəɹi
  • rhymes with -ɒnsɹi

1

adj

Meaning 1

Containing or making answer; answering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service; a respond.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A book of liturgical responses; a responsorial.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English responsorie, from Late Latin respōnsōrium, from Latin respōnsus (“answered”), from the verb respondeō (“to answer”). Compare respond.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: responsorio — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond
  • German: Responsorium — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond
  • Ido: responsorio — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond
  • Interlingua: responsorio — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond
  • Italian: responsorio — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond
  • Spanish: responsorio — a chant or anthem recited after a reading in a church service — see also respond