lexography no. 2

Re•spon•si•bil•i•ty (ri•spon´sə•bil'ə•ti), n.,pl. -ties 1. a being responsible; obligation: a little child does not feel much responsibility. 2. Thing for which one is responsible. A task, a debt, and little children to care for are responsibilities. —Syn. 1. accountability

Re•spon•si•ble (ri•spon´sə•bəl), adj. 1. obliged or expected to account (for): each pupil is responsible for the care of the books given him. 2. desrving credit of blame: the bad weather is responsible for the small attendance. 3. trustworthy; reliable: a responsible person should take care of the money. 4. involving obligation or duties: the presidency is a very responsible position. 5. able to tell right from wrong; able to think and act reasonably: insane people are not responsible. —Syn. 1.accountable, answerable. —Ant. 3. negligent, careless.

From the Thorndike Barnhart Comprehensive Desk Dictionary, Doubleday & Company, 1954

of course, there's always Ambrose Bierce's definition (courtesy of Stinkhorn Rodeo):

RESPONSIBILITY, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.

Or, nowadays, (one might add) on to the shoulders of the victim. Does that sound familiar?

Wait a minute, isnt blaming the victim one of the signs of an abusive relationship?