responsion

noun

re·spon·sion

-nchən

plural -s

obsolete : a sum required to be paid

especially : an annual payment required of a member of a military order of knighthood

: an act of answering : answer, response

responsions plural : the first examination taken by a candidate for the B.A. degree at Oxford University and required for matriculation

called also smalls

compare previous examination

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French responsion answer, sum to be paid, from Medieval Latin responsion-, responsio, from Latin, answer, from responsus (past participle of respondēre to answer) + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of responsion was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century