Etimology
From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) + -swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer-), suggesting an original meaning of "a sworn statement rebutting a charge". The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”). Compare also Old English andwyrde (“answer”) (cognate to Dutch antwoord, German Antwort), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).
noun
answer (plural answers)
A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
A solution to a problem.
(law) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
Examples
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
There is no simple answer to corruption.
Violence is not the answer to disagreements.
Etimology
From Middle English answeren, andswaren, answerien, from Old English andswarian, answarien (“to answer, to respond, to deny an allegation under oath”), from Proto-Germanic *andaswarōną, *andaswarjaną (“to answer, to give a response, to rebut”), from *anda- (“against”) + *swarjaną, *swarōną (“to swear an oath, to answer, to respond”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to swear”) and *h₂ent- (“face, forehead”), equivalent to and- (“against, back”) + swear. Cognate with Old Frisian ondswera (“to answer”), Danish ansvare (“to answer, account for”), Swedish ansvara (“to answer, account for”), Icelandic andsvara (“to answer, reply”).
verb
answer (third-person singular simple present answers, present participle answering, simple past and past participle answered)
(transitive, intransitive) To make a reply or response to.
(transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
(transitive, intransitive) To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
(transitive, intransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
(law) To file a document in response to a complaint.
To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
(obsolete) To render account to or for.
(obsolete) To atone for; to be punished for.
(obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
Examples
She answers him as if she knew his mind:The spelling has been modernized.
The spelling has been modernized.
[…] there was no voice, nor any that answered.
“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.
He answered the question.
to answer a charge or accusation
She answered the door.
Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse’s entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness had perfectly answered.
Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — "That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don't like it. […]
Of course for publication in a newspaper, my palaeotype would not answer, but my glossotype would enable the author to give his Pennsylvania German in an English form and much more intelligibly.
Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and "answering every purpose" was one of them.
It answers the need.
Synonym: answer for
The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
He has a lot to answer for.
And pleaſe your Maiestie, let his Neck anſwere for it, if there is any Marſhall Law in the World.
Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.
The use of dunder in the making of rum, answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.
The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]
[…] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conuenience
If this but answer to my just belief, / I’ll well remember you.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
[…] I might carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person.
[…] no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant / Though by his blindness maim’d for high attempts, / Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,
The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
He answered my claim upon him.
The servant answered the bell.
[…] this proud king […] studies day and night / To answer all the debts he owes unto you
The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won't answer the helm so well.
[…] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:
[…] The noble Brutus / Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: / If it were so, it was a grievous fault, / And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.