Webster's English Dictionary

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responsible

re.spon.si.ble \-'spa:n(t)-s*-b*l\ \-ble-\ aj 1a: liable to be called upon 
   to answer as the primary cause, motive, or ag ent 1b: liable to legal 
   review or in case of fault to penalties  2a: able to answer for one's 
   conduct and obligations : TRUSTWORTHY  2b: being a free moral agent  3: 
   involving responsibility or accountability  4: politically answerable; esp 
   : required to submit to the elector ate if defeated by the legislaturM, 
   LIABLE mean subject to an authority that may punish default. RESPONSIBLE 
   implies holding a formal organizational role, duty, or trust; ANSWERABLE 
   suggests a relation between one having a moral or legal obligation and a 
   court or other authority charged with oversight of its observance; 
   ACCOUNTABLE suggests imminence of retribution for unfulfilled trust or 
   violated obligation; AMENABLE and LIABLE stress the fact of subjection to 
   review, censure, or control by a designated authority under certain 
   conditions - re.spon.si.ble.ness n SYN syn RESPONSIBLE, ANSWERABLE, 
   ACCOUNTABLE, AMENABLE)