re·sponse

[ri-spons]
noun
1.
an answer or reply, as in words or in some action.
2.
Biology. any behavior of a living organism that results from an external or internal stimulus.
3.
Ecclesiastical.
a.
a verse, sentence, phrase, or word said or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant. Compare versicle ( def 2 ).
4.
Bridge. a bid based on an evaluation of one's hand relative to the previous bid of one's partner.

Origin:
1250–1300; < Latin respōnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of respondēre to respond; replacing Middle English respounse < Middle French respons < Latin, as above

re·sponse·less, adjective
coun·ter·re·sponse, noun


1. rejoinder. See answer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Response is always a great word to know.
So is atavism. Does it mean:
the subdivision of an organism or of an organ into more or less equivalent parts; cell division
the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations
Collins
World English Dictionary
response (rɪˈspɒns) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the act of responding; reply or reaction
2.  bridge a bid replying to a partner's bid or double
3.  (usually plural) Christianity a short sentence or phrase recited or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant at a church service
4.  electronics the ratio of the output to the input level, at a particular frequency, of a transmission line or electrical device
5.  any pattern of glandular, muscular, or electrical reactions that arises from stimulation of the nervous system
 
[C14: from Latin rēsponsum answer, from rēspondēre to respond]
 
re'sponseless
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

response
c.1300, from L. responsum "answer," prop. neut. pp. of respondere "to respond" (see respond). Responsive is from L.L. responsivus, from L. responsus, pp. of respondere.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

response re·sponse (rĭ-spŏns')
n.
A reaction, as that of an organism or any of its parts, to a specific stimulus.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
response   (rĭ-spŏns')  Pronunciation Key 
A reaction, as that of an organism or any of its parts, to a specific stimulus. See more at classical conditioning.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The discovery suggests that the immediate response to other people's fear may
  be more automatic than previously thought.
One of the sharpest reactions came in response to a question that was submitted
  beforehand in writing.
Sneezing is a physiologic response to the irritation of the respiratory
  epithelium lining of the nose.
He stared down at the gray, badly cracked flags of the kitchen floor, waiting
  for a response.
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