Wordiyospond
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin spondēre (to pledge, promise solemnly). In English the core meaning shifts from pledging to answering — respond literally means "to pledge back." Prefixes shape the direction: answering back (respond), answering together (correspond), or losing one's pledge/hope (despondent).
Associated Words
correspond
To be similar or equivalent to something; to exchange letters regularly
correspondence
Communication by letters; similarity or agreement between things
correspondent
A journalist reporting from afar; a person who exchanges letters
corresponding
Similar in position or function; matching or equivalent
despondent
In low spirits from loss of hope; deeply discouraged
respond
To say something in reply; to react to a situation or stimulus
respondent
A person who replies to a survey or is a defendant in a legal case
respondents
People who reply to surveys or are defendants in legal cases
responsibility
the duty to manage or answer for something
responsiveness
The quality of reacting quickly and positively