responsal

English

Etymology

Compare Latin responsalis.

Noun

responsal (plural responsals)

1. (obsolete) One who is answerable or responsible.
   • a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “[The VI. [Supposition] that in Fact the Roman Bishops Continually from Saint Peter’s Time have Enjoyed and Exercised this Sovereign Power]”, in J[ohn] Tillotson, editor, A Treatise of the Pope’s Supremacy. […], London: […] Miles Flesher, for Brabazon Aylmer, […], published 1680, →OCLC, page 334:

     Anatolius being put into that See in the room of Flavianus, by the influence of Dioſcorus, (vvhoſe Reſponſal he had been) and having favoured the Eutychian Faction, Pope Leo might thence have had a fair colour to diſavovv him as uncapable of that Function and Dignity, he being ſo obnoxious; […]

2. (obsolete) A liturgical response.
   • 1674, Daniel Brevint, Saul and Samuel at Endor:

     After some short prayers and responsals, the mass-priest begs,

3. A proctor for a monastery.

Adjective

responsal (comparative more responsal, superlative most responsal)

1. (obsolete) answerable; responsible

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for “responsal”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.)

Anagrams

• apronless, personals, psoralens