different between selfless vs responsible

English

Etymology

self +? -less

Pronunciation

Adjective

selfless (comparative more selfless, superlative most selfless)

1. Having, exhibiting or motivated by no concern for oneself but for others; unselfish.

   In a selfless act of gratitude for saving his mother's life, Peter committed to giving money to his local breast cancer charity each year for the rest of his life.

Derived terms

• selflessly
• selflessness

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondere. The spelling of the English word is taken from the Old French variant responsible.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???sp?ns?bl?/
• IPA^(key): /???sp?ns?bl?/

Adjective

responsible (comparative more responsible, superlative most responsible)

1. (postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

2. (postpositive, followed by "for") Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
3. (followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).
4. (of a job or position) Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.

   She has a responsible position in the firm.

5. Having good judgment in decision-making.
6. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.

7. Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.

Antonyms

• irresponsible

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

responsible (plural responsibles)

1. (archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
   • 1899, The Harlequin (volume 1, page 12)

     Were this not so, long since would we have traced directly home the responsibility for the war on Freedom in the Philippines. Long since, would we have hanged the responsibles as traitors to our country.

2. (theater) An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
   • 1907, The Green Room Book; Or, Who's Who on the Stage (page 9)

     […] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […]

   • 1926, Arthur Machen, Dreads and Drolls

     'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night.

Translations

References

• responsible in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• responsible in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.