correspondentadj.n.
/kɒrɪˈspɒndənt/ A. adj. (In this use corresponding n. is now more frequent.)† 3. Responsive; compliant, submissive. Obsolete.† 4. Answerable, responsible. Obsolete.† 5. Used adverbially. Obsolete. (Cf. according adv. 1b.)
1. † b. Characterized by agreement or harmony of parts; harmonious, congruous. Obsolete. rare.
a. Answering to something else in the way of mutual adaptation or fitness; in agreement or harmony, congruous, accordant with; consonant, conformable, suitable, agreeable to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > specific with or to something
accordable1386
convenientc1400
agreeablea1450
to be standing withc1487
consonanta1492
consowningc1503
correspondenta1533
quadrant1536
constant1574
suitablea1586
uniforma1586
congruous1599
responsible1600
consentaneous1621
sympathizinga1627
consistible1642
consistent1646
consentany1648
consonate1649
quadratea1657
consonous1660
consentient1661
of a piece with1665
symmetrious1667
unison1675
consisting1700
one with ——a1848
congruent1875
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. D.vj Not correspondent to the good gouernaunce of the Empyre.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 248 Can God be pleased to do anythyng that is not most correspondent to reason?
1612 T. Dekker Troia-Noua Triumphans 80 His roabe and mantle..are correspondent to the quality of his person.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. i. 51 One entire System of Philosophy, correspondent with, and agreeable to, the true and real World.
1798 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 246 An order of things more correspondent to the sentiments of our constituents.
1809 N. Pinkney Trav. South of France 103 Nothing could..have fallen out more correspondent with my wishes.
1866 J. G. Murphy Crit. Comm. Exodus xiv. 19 A series of..movements in the narrative correspondent with the native grandeur of the occasion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > having the parts in agreement
consonant1551
correspondent1555
consistent1651
self-consistent1651
consisting1700
congruous1753
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 206v Shewing as it were a fayre woorke and correspondent picture.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxxv. 140 The workmanship thereof is so correspondent, that all the perfection..from a good workman is observed in it.
2.
a. Answering to or agreeing with something else in the way of likeness of relation or analogy; analogous, or having an analogous relation to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adjective] > corresponding or analogous
accordingc1300
proportionate?a1425
proportionablec1443
correspondentc1460
agreeable1540
answerable1551
match1551
analogical1577
suitablea1586
parallela1610
analogal1610
correlativea1626
matching1630
analogic1638
analogous1644
commensurate1644
samea1687
companion1766
homologous1837
to match1838
homological1849
homologic1880
homothetic1886
tallied1895
matched1925
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > corresponding or matching
evenOE
accordingc1300
answeringc1443
correspondentc1460
agreeing1533
answerable1534
suitable1548
suit-like1555
well-matched1576
corresponding1579
corresponsivea1616
matching1630
schematic1701
companionable1823
c1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 1007 The pope hath no peere; Emperowre is nex hym euery where; Kynge corespondent.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 219 An horse man made of brasse corespondente to the ymage of that prouince [L. eques quidam æneus concordans mobiliter motui illius imaginis].
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. ✠ iiv The peticion of the Pater noster, correspondent to this braunche or gyft, is..writen in the margent.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 659 Squirrels which haue such lines of white and blacke, with correspondent lines in the taile.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. iv. 13 To these Uses [of speech] there are also foure correspondent Abuses.
1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. i. 15 I venture to affirm..that every simple impression [has] a correspondent idea.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. v. 144 Sculptural sketching; exactly correspondent to a painter's light execution of a background.
1875 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims ix. 220 The poet cannot see a natural phenomenon which does not express to him a correspondent fact in his mental experience.
b. Agreeing (with each other) in relative position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > [adjective] > agreeing (with each other) in relative position
correspondent1570
1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 12v Two triangles, of which two sides of th' one be equal to two sides of the other, eche side to his correspondent side.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Twelfth Bk. Metamorphoses in Fables 436 As five zones th' ætherial regions bind, Five correspondent are to earth assigned.
1842 Sir W. Hamilton in Reid's Wks. I. 164/1 Two points anatomically correspondent, when on opposite sides of the body they severally hold the same relation to the centre.
c. Agreeing (with something else) in relative magnitude or value; proportional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > that is in due proportion or proportionate > proportionate to
in (also for, of, with) proportiona1393
convenientc1405
affeiring1536
measurable1541
equivalent1575
commensurable1645
commoderate1650
correspondenta1656
commensurate1657
commeasurable1658
a1656 J. Ussher Power of Princes (1683) i. xxxi. 56 What correspondent thing can he repay to God, who by his gift enjoyeth an Empire?
1800 Duke of Wellington in Marquess Wellesley Select. Despatches (1877) 650 The..price has been..increased without any correspondent improvement in the quality of the goods.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > compliant
ablec1384
obedientc1400
supplec1405
accordinga1425
plianta1425
serviablea1425
appliable1449
bowablec1449
applicant?c1500
pliablea1513
applying?1529
flexible?1531
maniablea1604
correspondenta1616
compliable1641
compliant1642
complaisant1647
flexile1651
complacential1658
complying1668
commode1674
complaisential1689
applicable1702
complacent1790
unprotesting1792
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 298 I will be correspondent to command. View more context for this quotation
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 5 It [Britain] continued correspondent to the Romans.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > [adjective] > responsible, answerable, or liable
accountablec1400
accountant1429
answerable1446
responsalc1460
countable1495
liable1542
chargeable1546
responsable1565
correspondent1612
countant1638
responsible1640
responsive1642
amenablea1781
1612 G. Chapman Widdowes Teares v. sig. I3v We are not correspondent for any, but our owne places.
1658 F. Osborne Trad. Mem. Raigne Q. Eliz. in Misc. Ess. (1659) 50 I am no waies correspondent for the praise or blame due to any verses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > correspondingly or analogously > analogously to or with
analogously1646
correspondent1684
1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 1 The Mercurial Standard..rises or falls..correspondent to the various Temperaments which the Air receives.
B. n.† 2. A person who holds communication with another, esp. secret communication; a confederate, accomplice. Obsolete.
1. A thing that corresponds or answers to something else; a correlative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > correlation > [noun] > a complement or counterpart
fellowc1330
marrow1516
correlative1545
mate1578
counterpane1612
counterpart1635
correlate1643
tally1647
correspondent1650
complement1827
co-relative1864
opposite number1874
oppo1932
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule of Holy Living (1727) 276 Eggs are to birds as a relative to its correspondent.
1781 S. Johnson Gray in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets X. 33 The first line was dearly bought by the admission of its wretched correspondent.
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. 56 The nearest correspondent in quality to the short e of ‘met’.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > [noun] > one who or that which communicates
communicator1550
correspondent1639
communicant1847
intercommunicator1855
languager1918
contact man1926
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > [noun] > accomplice
complice1475
fedariea1616
complier1619
correspondent1639
right bower1829
cohort1952
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > one who assists
fellowa1382
accessory1414
accessary1451
confederate1495
confederator1536
snapperc1555
complice1581
accomplice?1589
assistor1601
socius criminis1602
fedariea1616
complier1619
particeps criminisa1634
correspondent1639
complicate1662
capper1753
palc1770
partner in crime1831
sidekick1893
side-kicker1894
ram1941
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. viii. 123 Their faithfull correspondent, who advised them by his letters, could no where be found.
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 181 His [a mutineer's] Correspondent in the other Ship..began the Work.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 69 He [sc. a highwayman] had always acted..without partner or correspondent.
3. A person who has regular business relations with another (esp. in a distant place).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trader > merchant > [noun]
merchantc1225
grocer1427
merchantman1449
marketor1474
fleece-feeder1549
mercadore1595
marcantanta1616
man of business1640
correspondent1698
businessman1803
mercantile1813
net importer1925
commercial1962
1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 33 A Man may possibly meet with a Correspondent in Piety with whom he may Traffique and Negotiate in the Affairs of Heaven.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xvi. 601 To take Bills of Exchange from Amsterdam upon their Correspondents in London.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 202 I..had gotten..a Correspondent in London, with whom I Traded.
1827 O. W. Roberts Narr. Voy. Central Amer. 226 This worthy man also gave me a letter to his correspondent at Granada.
4.
a. One who communicates with another by letters. (The ordinary modern use.)
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > [noun] > correspondent
correspondenta1639
corresponder1776
a1639 H. Wotton Parallel betweene Earle of Essex & Duke of Buckingham (1641) 6 The Secretary..knew there were some Letters in it from his correspondents.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 18 Apr. (1965) I. 347 I writ to..all my..Correspondants by the last Ship.
1841 R. W. Emerson Spiritual Laws in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 164 I have not answered the letters of my own correspondents.
1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. viii. 127 The lady was a voluminous correspondent.
b. One who contributes letters to a newspaper or journal; spec. one employed by a journal to contribute news and other material to its columns from some particular place.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > correspondent
correspondent1711
newspaper correspondent1849
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 22. ⁋1 The Letters of my Correspondents will represent this Affair in a more lively Manner.
1798 Anti-Jacobin 15 Jan. 78/1 For the two following Poems we are indebted to unknown Correspondents.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xvi. 205 ‘He is a man of fine moral elements’..said the war correspondent.
1873 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Wooin' o't xii ‘The triumph of decorative art,’ as ‘our own correspondent’ would call it.
c. foreign correspondent, a clerk who deals with the foreign correspondence of a business house.
ΚΠ
1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 33 Commercial Clerk... Foreign Correspondent (Merchant's).
5. An organism in vital communication with its environment: see correspond v. 4d.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World (1890) vii. 214 Some change might occur in it [the environment] which the correspondents had no adaptive changes to meet.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.c1460