Answer

Answer
Answer An"swer ([a^]n"s[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Answered} ([a^]n"s[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Answering}.] [OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr. andswaru, n., answer. See {Answer}, n.] 1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation. [1913 Webster]

2. To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to. [1913 Webster]

She answers him as if she knew his mind. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus answered soon his bold compeer. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute. [1913 Webster]

No man was able to answer him a word. --Matt. xxii. 46. [1913 Webster]

These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The reasoning was not and could not be answered. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

4. To be or act in return or response to. Hence: (a) To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon him; the servant answered the bell. [1913 Webster]

This proud king . . . studies day and night To answer all the debts he owes unto you. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (b) To render account to or for. [1913 Webster]

I will . . . send him to answer thee. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (c) To atone; to be punished for. [1913 Webster]

And grievously hath C[ae]zar answered it. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (d) To be opposite to; to face. [1913 Webster]

The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. --Gilpin. [1913 Webster] (e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Money answereth all things. --Eccles. x. 19. [1913 Webster] (f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit. [1913 Webster]

Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person. --Swift. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • answer — an·swer 1 n 1: the defendant s written response to the plaintiff s complaint in a civil suit in which he or she may deny any of plaintiff s allegations, offer any defenses, and make any counterclaims against the plaintiff, cross claims against… …   Law dictionary

  • answer — n reply, response, rejoinder, retort (see under ANSWER vb 1) Analogous words: defense, vindication, justification (see corresponding verbs at MAINTAIN): refutation, rebuttal (see corresponding verbs at DISPROVE) Contrasted words: question, query …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • answer to — 1. To give an indication of accepting as one s name 2. To have as one s name (informal) 3. To be accountable to • • • Main Entry: ↑answer * * * answer to (the name of) often humorous be called …   Useful english dictionary

  • answer — [an′sər, än′sər] n. [ME andsware < OE andswaru < and , against + swerian, SWEAR] 1. something said or written in return to a question, argument, letter, etc. 2. any act in response or retaliation [his answer was a well aimed blow] 3. one… …   English World dictionary

  • Answer — An swer, v. i. 1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. [1913 Webster] There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26. [1913 Webster] 2. To make a satisfactory response or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Answer — An swer, n. [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. [root]177, 196. See {Anti }, and {Swear}, and cf. 1st {un }.] 1. A reply to a charge; a defense. [1913 Webster] At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Answer Me — is a popular song, originally written (with German lyrics, under the title Mutterlein ) by Gerhard Winkler and Fred Rauch. The English lyrics were written by Carl Sigman in 1952. After the song was recorded by David Whitfield and Frankie Laine in …   Wikipedia

  • Answer —  Pour l’article homonyme, voir The Answer.  Answer est un film américain indépendant réalisé par Spike Lee en 1980. Fiche technique Réalisation : Spike Lee Pays  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • answer to — a person or thing regarded as the equivalent to a better known one from another place: → answer answer to be responsible or report to. → answer …   English new terms dictionary

  • answer — [n] reply; reaction acknowledgment, antiphon, backcap*, back talk, band aid*, close, comeback, comment, cooler*, counterclaim, crack, defense, disclosure, echo, elucidation, explanation, feedback, guff*, interpretation, justification, key, lip*,… …   New thesaurus

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