Definition of response

The word "response" has its roots in Latin. The Latin word "response" means "to answer" or "to reply", and it is derived from "responsum", which is the neuter past participle of "respicere", meaning "to look back" or "to turn back". This Latin word was used to describe an answer or a reply, especially in the sense of a question being turned back or responded to. The word "response" was borrowed into Middle English from Old French "response", and it has been used in English since the 13th century to describe a reaction, an answer, or a reply. Over time, the meaning of "response" has expanded to include a wide range of contexts, such as a musical response, a medical response, or an environmental response. Despite its evolution, the word "response" still retains its core meaning of an answer or a reaction to something.