Responsibility (rspnsblt), n.; pl. -ties (-t.
Etymology: [Cf. F. responsabilité.]
1. The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable, as for a trust, debt, or obligation.
2. That for which anyone is responsible or accountable; as, the resonsibilities of power.
3. Ability to answer in payment; means of paying.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for responsibility; he lists it under duty.
Where he writes about it:
Etymologically, duty is that which is owed or due; obligation, that to or by which one is bound; right, that which is correct, straight, or in the direct line of truth and goodness; responsibility, that for which one must answer. — from duty
Duty and responsibility are thought of as to some person or persons; right is impersonal. — from duty
Duty arises from the nature of things; obligation and responsibility may be created by circumstances, as by one's own promise, or by the acceptance of a trust, etc. — from duty
We speak of a parent's duty, a debtor's obligation; or of a child's duty of obedience, and a parent's responsibility for the child's welfare. — from duty
Antonyms
none given