responsion
(rɪˈspɒnʃən)
Also 6 -cion.
[a. F. responsion († responcion), = Sp. responsion, It. re-, risponsione, or ad. L. responsiōn-em, n. of action f. respondēre to respond.]
1. An answer or reply; a response. Now rare.
| 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 10 By ony responcions or peticions of them in parlement. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xi. (Percy Soc.) 42 Seven sophyms..Thys ydre used..Unto the people, and was full rigorious To devoure them, where lacked responsion. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions Pref. 13 By obscure and doubtfully attempred Responcions, and voices of spirites. 1656 S. Holland Zara (1719) 123 To the first he yielded a ready responsion, but to the other he answered in very obscure terms. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles iii. 99 To confer among themselves by Questions and Responsions or Answers. 1802–12 Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) II. 10 Fourth point—responsion performed in the presence of the judge. 1880 Cent. Mag. XIX. 294 (Cent.), Everywhere in nature, Whitman finds human relations, human responsions. |
† 2. A sum falling to be paid; esp. an annual payment which was required from knights of the military orders. Obs.
| c 1470 Edw. IV in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 143 A Lumbard..shalbe bounde..in the said somme, to be paied..to such as the saide Bisshopp..wol assigne to receyve the same, be it for the responsion of the Commandeur of Torfischyn. 1480 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 50 Þe soume of vjxx pund, of þe Responsioune of þe said Trestramys landis, aucht to our souuerain lorde. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 24 Commanderies, preceptories, contribucions, responsions, rentes..which appertained..to the priours. [1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Responsions, a Word us'd among the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, for certain Accounts made to them, by such as held their Lands, or Stocks. 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Such a knight Templar paid a responsion of fifty pounds per annum to his order, on account of such a commandery.] |
3. pl. The first of the three examinations which candidates for the B.A. degree at Oxford were required to pass. (Responsions were ended by statute in 1960.)
| 1813 Oxford Univ. Cal. p. ii, Feb. 17, Responsions commence. 1845 W. Gresley Frank's Trip to Continent 2 He had just come home from Oxford after having..passed his responsions. 1881 Truth 6 Oct. 443 The new examination in lieu of responsions at Oxford, which has just been instituted. |
4. A public university disputation.
| 1841 Peacock Stat. Cambr. 9 When they had kept two responsions..under the regency of a master of arts..they were presented..as candidates for admission. |