An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Any → reaction of a → system to an external → stimulus. See also:
→ instrumental response function, → peripheral response, → response curve, → response time, → spectral response.

Etymology (EN): From L. responsum “answer,” noun use of neuter p.p. of respondere “answer to, promise in return,” from → re- “back” + spondere “to pledge.”

Etymology (PE): Pâsox “answer, response;” Mid.Pers. pâssox “answer, reply;” loaned in Arm. patasxani “answer;” Proto-Iranian *pati-sanh-, from *pati- “agaist, back, opposite to, toward, face to face, in front of,” → anti-, + *sanh- “to declare, say;” Mod.Pers. soxan “speech, utterance, word,” → speech.