He is a responsible - looking gentleman dressed in black

4. Involving responsibility. Dickens , Bleak House, xxviii. But it is a responsible trust, and difficult to discharge. Dickens . Responsible busine ( the at .), rôles next in importance above those described as "utility." - Responsible utility ( the at .), a minor actor who can be trusted with very small parts-who is also said to play "genteel busine . responsiblene (re-spon'si-bl-nes), n . The state of being responsible; responsibility. Bai ley , 1727. responsibly (rē-spon'si-bli), adv . In a responsible manner. res pons i on (rē-spon's hon), n . [= OF. respon sion, an answer, surety, suretyship, = Pg. re sponsão , ground-rent, = It. risp ons i one , an answer, reply, responsio ( n- ), an answer, reply, refutation, respond ere , pp. responsus , answer: see response .] 1. The act of answering; answer; reply. Responsions unto the questions.