re·spond / riˈspänd/ • v. say something in reply: [intr.] she could not get Robert to respond to her words | he responded that it would not be feasible | [with direct speech] “It's not part of my job,” Belinda responded. ∎  (of a congregation) say or sing the response in reply to a priest. ∎  [intr.] (of a person) act or behave in reaction to someone or something: she turned her head, responding to his grin with a smile. ∎  react quickly or positively to a stimulus or treatment: his back injury has failed to respond to treatment. ∎  [tr.] Bridge make (a bid) in answer to one's partner's preceding bid.• n. 1. Archit. a half-pillar or half-pier attached to a wall to support an arch, esp. at the end of an arcade.2. (in church use) a responsory; a response to a versicle.DERIVATIVES: re·spond·ence / -dəns/ n. ( archaic )re·spond·en·cy / -dənsē/ n. ( archaic )re·spond·er n.

respond (liturg.) responsory XIV; response to a versicle XVI. — OF., f. respondre (mod. répondre):- Rom. *respondere, for L. respondēre answer to an engagement. f. RE- + spondēre make a solemn engagement.
So respond vb. answer. XVI. — L. respondēre. respondent one who defends a thesis; (leg.) defendant. XVI. response answer, reply XIV; (liturg.) verse corresponding to a versicle XVII (earlier, responsory XV). — OF. respons (mod. répons) or response (mod. réponse) or L. responsum (pl. -a), f. pp. of respondēre. responsible †corresponding to XVI; answerable to another for something; reliable XVII. — F. †responsible. responsive responding, corresponding. XVI. — F. responsif, -ive, or late L. responsory (-ORY1) (liturg.) anthem to be recited antiphonally after a lesson. XV. — late L. responsōrium.

respond. Corbel, half-pier, or other architectural element engaged to a wall at the end of an arcade from which the first arch springs. In Classical architecture, an anta or pilasterlike motif where arcades or colonnades engage with a wall.

respond in architectural use, a half-pillar or half-pier attached to a wall to support an arch, especially at the end of an arcade.