RESPONDENTS
Noun
respondents
plural of respondent
Source: Wiktionary
RESPONDENT
Re*spond"ent (-ent), a. Etym: [L. respondens, p. pr. of respondere.]
Definition: Disposed or expected to respond; answering; according;
corresponding.
Wealth respondent to payment and contributions. Bacon.
Re*spond"ent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. répondant.]
Definition: 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: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition