- responsible (adj.)
- 1590s, "answerable (to another, for something)," from obsolete French responsible, a variant of Modern French responsable (as if from Latin *responsabilis), from Latin responsus, past participle of respondere "to respond" (see respond). Meaning "morally accountable for one's actions" is attested from 1836. Retains the sense of "obligation" in the Latin root word. Related: Responsibly.