Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-SPONSE, n. [respons'; L. responsum.]

1. An answer or reply; particularly, an oracular answer.
2. The answer of the people or congregation to the priest, in the litany and other parts of divine service. – Addison.
3. Reply to an objection in formal disputation. – Watts.
4. In the Romish Church, a kind of anthem sung after the morning lesson.
5. In a fugue, a repetition of the given subject by another part. – Busby.