responsory

American  

[ri-spon-suh-ree] / rɪˈspɒn sə ri /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

plural

responsories

1. an anthem sung after a lection by a soloist and choir alternately.

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responsory British  

/ rɪˈspɒnsərɪ /

noun

1. Christianity an anthem or chant consisting of versicles and responses and recited or sung after a lesson in a church service

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Etymology

Origin of responsory

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin respōnsōrium, equivalent to Latin respond ( ēre ) to respond + -tōrium -tory ², with dt > s

Example Sentences

Dynamics were also crucial: When Jesus cried out on the cross in the “Tenebrae” responsory, “exclamavit” was startlingly loud; his death, “emisit spiritum,” was barely audible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

Two versicles of responsory next, and then the Mother Superior began to intone the Magnificat, and Sister Giovanna took up the grand plain-chant with the others.

From The White Sister by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

These collective masses appear to be at rest, simply by the equality of the motion—by the responsory impulse of the powers acting in them.

From The System of Nature, Volume 1 by Holbach, Paul Henri Thiry, baron d'

One of the principal changes made in revising the Prayer-book in 1549 was the setting forth of longer Lessons with responsory canticles sung at the end only.

From The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia by Miller, William James

Hearken here, Epistemon, my little bully, dost not thou hold him to be very resolute in his responsory verdicts?

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 3 by Motteux, Peter Anthony