responsibleadj.n.
/rᵻˈspɒnsᵻbl/, U.S. /rəˈspɑnsəb(ə)l/, /riˈspɑnsəb(ə)l/ A. adj.† 2. Corresponding or answering (to something). Obsolete.† 4. Capable of being answered. Obsolete. rare.† 5. Of a person: available to answer a charge. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a. Capable of fulfilling an obligation or duty; reliable, trustworthy, sensible.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [adjective]
soothfastc825
truefastOE
i-treowec1000
unfakenOE
trueOE
sickerc1100
trigc1175
strustya1250
steel to the (very) backa1300
true as steela1300
certainc1325
well-provedc1325
surec1330
traistc1330
tristc1330
trustya1350
faithfula1382
veryc1385
sada1387
discreet1387
trust1389
trothfulc1390
tristya1400
proveda1425
good-heartedc1425
well-trusted?a1439
tristfulc1440
authorizablea1475
faithworthy?1526
tentik1534
fidele1539
truthfulc1550
suresby1553
responsible1558
trestc1560
reliable1569
cocksurea1575
sound1581
trustful1582
truepenny1589
true (also good, sure) as touch1590
probable1596
confident1605
trustable1606
axiopistical1611
loyala1616
reposeful1627
confiding1645
fiducial1647
laudable1664
safe1667
accountable1683
serious1693
sponsible1721
dependable1730
unfailing1798
truthya1802
trustworthy1829
all right1841
stand-up1841
falsehood-free1850
right1856
proven1872
bankable1891
secure1954
1558–9 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1875) III. 27 [That he] tak souertie of his said depute of honest responsibill nychtbouris..for his..suir keping of the saidis jowallis.
1647 A. Wilbee Secunda Pars 6 Mr Say was a responsible man, and well able to pay.
1662 W. Petty Treat. Taxes 34 At present particular men get..Credit every where, but chiefly in London, being become a meer conceit, that a man is responsible or not, without any certain knowledge of his Wealth or true Estate.
1691 J. Locke Considerations Raising Value Money in Wks. (1714) II. 12 Not knowing that the Bill or Bond is true or legal, or that the Man bound to me is honest or responsible.
1714 W. Forbes Jrnl. Session 1705–13 420 Watson..bequeathed..the Sum of 5400 Merks Scots to be stocked in a responsible Debtor's Hand.
1758 Let. to Mayor wherein Discouragem. of Seamen are Examined 19 These assigned Tickets would be equal to Money-draughts upon any responsible Banker.
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. iii. 36 Could not be a better time, Sir Walter, for having a choice of tenants, very responsible tenants. View more context for this quotation
a1882 J. P. Quincy Figures of Past (1884) 345 The collection and delivery of parcels..might be undertaken by one responsible person.
1896 H. Johnston Dr. Congalton's Legacy ix. 103 Responsible land-owners, bonnet-lairds, farmers, otherwise a nondescript crowd.
1963 Times 9 Dec. 1/3 Responsible person required immediately; help run fully automated Chelsea flat.
2007 J. G. Thompson First-year Teacher's Survival Guide xiv. 330 You could also assign a responsible student to be in charge of issuing and collecting borrowed texts.
b. Of respectable appearance. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > of respectable appearance
responsible1764
1764 A. Murphy No One's Enemy but his Own i. 31 A fine, comely, responsible woman is my lady Portsoken—moves a minuet like a cathedral.
1780 S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett I. xxxi. 98 A new wig..to be made so as to resemble a responsible head of hair.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House lviii. 561 His linen is arranged to a nicety, and he is wrapped in a responsible dressing gown.
1983 R. Magraw France, 1815–1914 (1986) iii. 104 Workers should acquire education, show decent virtues, wear responsible clothes, thus forcing the bourgeoisie to respect them.
c. Of a practice or activity: carried out in a morally principled or ethical way.
ΚΠ
1972 Village Voice (N.Y.C.) 4 May 118/2 His foundation does not invest heavily in military stocks. Many foundations are currently looking into the area of responsible investment.
1982 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 12 June 43/3 The rest would go for interest on the loan, contrary to ‘responsible’ banking.
1995 S. Cohn Green at Work 147 A strong environmental ethic and responsible practices permeate all aspects of the company.
2001 P. Carrick Med. Ethics in Anc. World 218 The trustee relationship between physician and patient on which all responsible medicine is ultimately founded.
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
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor ii. i. sig. F The admiration of your Forme; to which (if the bounties of your mind be any way responsible) [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
1629 tr. Herodian Hist. (1635) 140 If you expect a Doome, or Death, responsible to your blacke deeds, and detestable Villanies; the World cannot afford it.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 14 The Mouth large, but not responsible to so large a Body.
3. Cf. to hold (a person or thing) responsible at hold v. Additions.
a. With for. Being in charge of something; appointed to look after something.
ΚΠ
1635 G. Tooke Legend of Brita-mart sig. Cv We finde him here in England responsible both for discipline, and ammunition.
1646 W. Prynne Canterburies Doome 24 In the meane time Mr. Maxwell is to be responsible for him, and not to permit him to goe abroad.
1700 J. Colbatch Acct. Court of Portugal 50 Even while he was of those Years when one would think his Governours should be responsible for his Carriage.
1781 W. Jones Ess. Bailments (1790) 82 A common hoyman, like a common waggoner, is responsible for goods committed to his custody.
1832 E. C. Wines Two Years & Half in Navy I. 30 The lieutenant on duty..is responsible for the deck while he has charge of it.
1866 Times 25 Jan. 12 The house-surgeon on duty, who is responsible for primary treatment of all surgical cases.
1925 W. Lewis Foxes' Case in Calendar Mod. Lett. 74 Those responsible for him regard him with astonishment and dislike.
1946 Ann. Reg. 1945 167 The compromise eventually adopted required the Mandatory Powers to express their willingness to place the territories for which they were responsible under the Trusteeship system.
2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Appointments section) 3 As well as assessing the effectiveness of programme deliverables, you will also be responsible for all risk management.
b. Answerable or liable to be called to account to another person for something. Also without construction.
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
1640 J. Howell Δενδρολογια 189 He be responsible to none for an account of his actions but to the high Majestie of Heaven.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 405 Being responsible to the King for what might happen to us.
1720 D. Waterland Importance Doctr. Trinity v, in Wks. (1823) V. 115 Willing or not willing, every man is responsible, at last, for the doctrines he teaches.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 42 Our constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible . View more context for this quotation
1850 J. McCosh Method Divine Govt. (ed. 2) iii. i. 283 Man is a free agent and morally responsible to his Governor.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest II. ix. 316 The country was left..without any single responsible chief.
1957 Times 23 Aug. 3/1 Whether the traffic branch was directly responsible to the Chief Constable or whether the chain of command led through the Superintendent.
1997 S. Leigh & S. Taylor Livery Companies City London (Corporation of London) 26 A Portreeve..was the official responsible to the King for the actions of the town or city whose government he headed.
c. Morally accountable for one's actions; capable of rational conduct.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > [adjective] > capable of moral action
moral1593
responsible1742
autonomous1856
1742 J. Tillard Reply to Mr. Warburton's App. v. 276 We are responsible Creatures, and accountable for the misuse of his Gifts and Graces.
1762 S. Westcott Several Disc. 89 The Actions of Rational Beings, who are therefore responsible, and accountable, will be brought into Judgment.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 35 James arrived at an age when he could be treated as responsible.
1875 A. Bain Mental & Moral Sci. (new ed.) 396 In criminal procedure, a man is accounted responsible if motives still continue to have power over him.
1918 A. G. Gardiner Leaves in Wind 17 The jury were unsympathetic, found that in the circumstances the woman was responsible, and gave a verdict against her.
1946 Mind 55 115 A will-less saint would be a sub-moral being, a fine creature perhaps, but not a responsible moral agent.
1996 C. Elliott Rules of Insanity vii. 121 The results [of the mental status exam] give a more general indication of whether a person can be considered a responsible agent.
d. Being the cause or originator of something; deserving of credit or blame for something.
ΚΠ
1744 J. Mottley Hist. Life & Reign Empress Catharine II. 233 So far from being responsible for the Ravages committed on our coasts.., they maintain, that they saved Sweden from a general Overthrow.
1792 R. Cumberland West Indian i. vi. 21 If there is any offence in my coming to town, your ladyship is in some degree responsible for it, for part of my errand was to pay my duty here.
1855 Harper's Mag. July 228/2 The flaunting ‘fashionists’ (Mrs. M. is responsible for the word).
1882 Athenæum 5 Aug. 179/1 To show how little the sacred book of the Mohammedans is responsible for the present shape of Islamic dogma and ritual.
1901 N.Y. Times 28 July 6/3 Inability to bat was responsible for the defeat of the New Yorks yesterday.
1973 P. Arnold & C. Davis Hamlyn Bk. World Soccer 129/4 This was the first of the ‘rough houses’, for which in this case the Brazilian referee was in part responsible.
2004 Spin June 70/5 The New York DJ, producer and occasional MC is responsible for some of the greatest hip-hop ever.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [adjective] > allowing a reply
replicable1528
responsible1647
1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. lviii. 383 This is a difficult Question, and yet by Astrologie responsible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > accusation, charge > [adjective] > open to accusation
chesounablea1340
challengeable1377
accusablea1525
answerable1527
condemnablea1586
responsible1648
imputable1660
chargeable1662
1648 Declar. Divers Gentlemen Wales 4 Being thus extreamly accountable, and having nothing responsible but his Carkas, at his being here in Town was served with a warrant.
1650 in T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. (1765) 452 You are required to attach the goods or lands of William Stevens to the value of one hundred pounds, so as to bind the same to be responsible at the next court at Boston.
6. Of a role, position, etc.: involving a high level of responsibility, accountability, or obligation.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > [adjective]
chargeablea1533
chargeful1553
responsible1763
1763 Reply to Let. Addr. to George Grenville 9 He has not attacked one publick Measure of that Gentleman's whole political Life, though he has in the Course of it sustain'd the most important and most responsible Offices in the State.
1791 H. Grace Code Mil. Standing Regulations Bengal Establishm. I. xxxix. 431/1 The important and responsible duties..are performed entirely by assistants on monthly salaries.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. ii. 30 He..selected two persons for the responsible office of superintending his education.
1880 19th Cent. Apr. 707 Native officers so appointed to high and responsible positions.
1900 Downside Rev. Mar. 84 Your life, your merits, your doctrine, your diligence, all mark you out for this responsible post.
1976 I. M. Lewis Social Anthropol. in Perspective vii. 222 A redistributing chief..conscientiously shouldering the terrible burdens of his high and responsible office.
1989 West Austral. (Perth) 13 May 70/2 (advt.) This is a responsible position which requires discipline, initiative and the ability to work under direction.
B. n.
1. A person who is responsible (in various senses).
ΚΠ
1795 T. Finch Addr. to Poor of Northrepps 13 As good responsibles, unwilling to intrude upon the liberty of office, you, yourselves would be at the cost of printing.
1832 Times 6 Feb. 6/1 A good number of the responsibles of the new creation might be consulted with every chance of obtaining the information required.
1873 J. Bonwick Tasmanian Lily 51 The old folks dropped the yarning, the responsibles forgot their cares, and sweethearts turned from sparkling eyes to sunlit waters!
1950 Stanford Law Rev. 2 660 The whole tendency has been away from individualization of disposition on a medical-psychiatric basis, and toward an increasing extension of the category of ‘responsibles’.
2007 J. Dobson in G. Dewsbury & J. Dobson Responsibility & Dependable Syst. v. 98 The holder of the responsibility (the responsible) is responsible to the giver of the responsibility (the authority).
2. An actor who undertakes to play any part which may be temporarily required. Now historical and rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > playing any part
responsible1869
1869 Era 18 July 1/2 Harold White, Low Comedian, Burlesque, and Comic Vocalist; with Mrs. W., Second Chambermaids and Responsibles.
1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 121 Hearing that one of their ‘responsibles’ had just left, I went straight to the manager,..and was accepted.
1911 S. Hicks Twenty-four Yrs. of Actor's Life xx. 288 I knew an old actor..who, falling on evil times, became content to lead the supers and play small bits, or ‘responsibles’, as this line of business is known.
1978 M. Baker Rise of Victorian Actor vi. 125 A guinea a week was reckoned high for a ‘utility’, 30s a good wage for experienced all-round ‘responsibles’.
Compounds
C1. Forming complementary and parasynthetic adjectives, as responsible-looking, responsible-minded, etc.
ΚΠ
1795 S. J. Pratt Gleanings through Wales II. xlix. 430 Five and twenty pounds sterling, of English money, thus converted into Dutch coins, returns you a very responsible looking bag.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxviii. 277 A responsible-looking gentleman dressed in black.
1891 S. Mostyn Curatica 57 When the meeting was dissolved, I joined myself to a responsible-looking brother, and..begged an explanation.
1915 M. Widdemer Why Not? ii. 27 Besides being human he was a good and responsible-minded man.
1960 Times 7 Mar. 13/5 Are publishers responsible-minded parents?
2006 Observer (Nexis) 30 Apr. 26 Pack displays a responsible-sounding sobriety.
C2.
responsible government government which is accountable to the people; spec. a political system in which governments and individual ministers are drawn from and accountable to parliament, esp. the lower house, rather than to a monarch or similar power.Frequently with reference to the colonial territories of the former British Empire.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] > other types of government
regency1643
myriarchy1650
responsible government1782
charter-government1796
co-government1834
minority government1859
internationalism1879
minority rule1886
Labour government1892
provisional government1916
paepae1937
1782 G. Sharp Claims People of Eng. 9 It is therefore become absolutely necessary, for the Security both of King and People,..that the just ‘Claims of the People’ be satisfied in an immediate Restoration of the antient legal and responsible Government, by a Revival of the two repealed Articles of the Act of Settlement.
1793 C. F. Greville Brit. India Analyzed III. xix. 878 The opinion of both parties coincided in the necessity of a strong responsible government.
1831 Times 22 Aug. 3/3 He was convinced that Ireland would be materially benefitted by the establishment of a local responsible Government in the different counties, authorized by Parliament to communicate with the Government of the country.
1906 W. S. Churchill in R. S. Churchill Winston S. Churchill (1969) II. Compan. i. 506 We are not, of course, confined to any particular form of Responsible Government.
1910 Colonial Office List v. i. 633 The colonies possessing responsible government, in which the Crown has only reserved the power of disallowing legislation and the Secretary of State for the Colonies has no control over any public officer except the Governor.
1957 Encycl. Brit. XII. 174/2 The device known as dyarchy, or double government,..was intended to train Indians for responsible government.
2001 D. R. Owram in R. W. Winks Oxf. Hist. Brit. Empire vii. 150 The real significance of responsible government was the proof it gave of Canada's central role in the Empire.
Derivatives
reˈsponsibleness n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > [noun] > condition of being responsible
responsibleness1706
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [noun]
truthOE
trotha1225
truefastnessa1225
trueshipa1225
trueness?c1225
soothnessc1275
faithc1300
good faithc1300
trustc1300
trueheadc1325
traistnessa1340
truthheada1400
faithfulnessc1400
loyaltyc1400
tristiness1408
trustinessc1450
confiance1490
fealty?1515
surety?c1535
loyalness1592
troth-keeping1605
true-heartedness1608
confidence1642
trustworthiness1662
responsibleness1706
dependence1752
reliability1810
trustihood1823
faithworthiness1828
reliableness1841
dependableness1860
dependability1901
1706 J. Hussey Glory Christ Unveil'd xx. 404 The All-sufficiency lay in the Responsibleness of the Person.
1812 G. Chalmers Hist. View Domest. Econ. Great Brit. & Ireland 138 At this crisis..every bill was suspected, as being of doubtful responsibleness.
1928 Jrnl. Educ. Sociol. 2 154 Responsibleness..Sponsor is prompt for meeting.
1997 Curriculum Inq. 27 252 Poor preparation of teachers to act with responsibleness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
adj.n.1558