Etymology From Middle English respounden, from Old French respondre, from Late Latin respondō, from Latin respondeō. Cf. Modern French répondre.
1
To say something in return; to answer; to reply.
to respond to a question or an argument
2
To act in return; to carry out an action or in return to a force or stimulus; to do something in response.
As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.2012 January 23, Robert M. Pringle, “How to Be Manipulative”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2013, page 31:
3
Ambitransitive To correspond with; to suit.
For his great deeds respond his speeches great.1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC:
4
To satisfy; to answer.
The prisoner was held to respond the judgment of the court.