Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Respondent \Re*spond"ent\ (-ent), a. [L. respondens, p. pr. of
   respondere.]
   Disposed or expected to respond; answering; according;
   corresponding.

         Wealth respondent to payment and contributions.
                                                  --Bacon.

Respondent \Re*spond"ent\, n. [Cf. F. r['e]pondant.]
   One who responds. It corresponds in general to defendant.
   Specifically:
   (a) (Law) One who answers in certain suits or proceedings,
       generally those which are not according to the course of
       the common law, as in equity and admiralty causes, in
       petitions for partition, and the like; -- distinquished
       from appellant.
   (b) One who maintains a thesis in reply, and whose province
       it is to refute objections, or overthrow arguments; --
       distinguished from opponent. --I. Watts.

Source : WordNet®

respondent
     adj : replying; "an answering glance"; "an answering smile" [syn:
           {answering}]
     n 1: the codefendant (especially in a divorce proceeding) who is
          accused of adultery with the corespondent
     2: someone who responds [syn: {responder}, {answerer}]