that part of rabbinic literature concerned with written rulings in answer to questions
Responsa in American English
(rɪˈspɑnsə)
noun
the branch of rabbinical literature comprised of authoritative replies in letter form made by noted rabbis or Jewish scholars to questions sent to them concerning Jewish law
Word origin
[1895–1900; ‹ NL; pl. of responsum]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backstage, frame of reference, freewheel, hit-and-run, neon