Respounen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic verb meaning to give an answer or reply to something that has been said or asked
2. A Middle English term for responding, that is, making a return reply to a question, call or statement
3. Used in older English to mean answering someone or sending back a response to a speech or inquiry

Etymology: In the Middle Ages, "respounen" was an ordinary verb meaning to answer or reply. It came into English from Anglo-Norman and Old French "respondre," which was itself drawn from Latin "respondere." The Latin verb is built from "re-," meaning back, and "spondere," meaning to pledge or promise solemnly. Its earliest sense was to answer a formal promise with a counter-promise, so a reply was originally a kind of binding return of one's word. The Latin "respondere" also entered English directly, giving us "respond," and the two forms existed side by side for a time. "Respond" survived into modern English, while "respounen" faded out by the early modern period, leaving it a doublet that lost the contest.