from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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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.
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She answers him as if she knew his mind. --Shak.
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So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . .
And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
--Milton.
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3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like;
to refute.
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No man was able to answer him a word. --Matt. xxii.
46.
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These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
--Milton.
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The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
--Macaulay.
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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.
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This proud king . . . studies day and night
To answer all the debts he owes unto you.
--Shak.
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(b) To render account to or for.
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I will . . . send him to answer thee. --Shak.
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(c) To atone; to be punished for.
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And grievously hath C[ae]zar answered it.
--Shak.
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(d) To be opposite to; to face.
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The windows answering each other, we could just
discern the glowing horizon them. --Gilpin.
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(e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or
sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.]
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Money answereth all things. --Eccles. x.
19.
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(f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation,
or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
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Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they
answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
--Swift.
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