a. Now only dial. [Aphetic f. RESPONSIBLE a.: cf. next.] Responsible, reliable, respectable.
1721. Wodrow, Hist. Suff. Ch. Scot. (1830), III. 439/1. Till caution was found, by two sponsible persons, [that] she should present herself to the sheriff when called.
1765. Cowper, Lett., 3 July. My woollen-draper, a very healthy, wealthy, sensible, sponsible man.
1810. S. Green, Reformist, I. 120. ‘My Lord,’ replied the creditor, ‘I am an honest, sponsible shoemaker.’
1836–8. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. II. xxii. (1839), 276. But John Bull is like all other sponsible folks; he thinks ’cause he is rich he is wise too.
1856. G. Henderson, Pop. Rhymes Berwick, 97. One of the decent neighbours, and most sponsible man in the company.
