answer

▪ I. answer, n.
    (ˈɑːnsə(r), æ-)
    Forms: 1 and-, ondswaru, -suaru, 2 ondswore, 2–3 andsware, -swere, 3 ændswere, ænsware, enswere, 3–4 onswere, 3–5 answare, 3–7 answere, -uer(e, 4 answar, -suar, vnswere, (on-, ansquare, -quer), 5 on-, aunsware, 5–6 aunswer(e, 6 answeare, 4– answer.
    [OE. ˈandswaru, cogn. with OS. antswôr, OFris. (ontswer) ondser, ON. andsvar, annsvar, Dan. and Sw. ansvar, OTeut. *andswarâ-; f. and- against, in reply + *swarâ- affirmation, swearing, f. OTeut. *swarjan, Goth. swaran, OE. swęrian to affirm, swear. The original meaning was thus a solemn affirmation made to rebut a charge.]
    1. A reply made to a charge, whereby the accused seeks to clear himself; a defence. spec. in Law, The counter-statement made in reply to a complainant's bill of charges.

1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5779 Of whilk þai sal þan answer gyf. c 1360 Mercy in E.E.P. (1862) 120 Let seo what vnswere constou make. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 401 To dampne a man with-oute answere [v.r. aunswer, ansuere] or word. a 1400 Cov. Myst. 18 Ded men xul rysyn..And ffast to here ansuere thei xul hem dyth. 1580 Baret Alv. A 433 The answere of the defendant, Intentionis depulsio. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, ii. i. 203 Call these foule Offendors to their Answeres. 1611 Bible 2 Tim. iv. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me. [So Rhem.; Tindale, Genev., answerynge; Wyclif, Revised, defence.] 1694 W. Brown (title) The Clerk's Tutor in Chancery, giving true Directions how to draw affidavits, petitions..bills, answers. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. Chancery, An answer generally controverts the facts stated in the bill, or some of them. 1876 J. Parker Paraclete i. xiii. 201 To the charge that Christianity takes a low view of human nature, the cross of Christ is the answer of God.

    2. A reply to an objection rebutting its force; a reply in writing or debate, setting forth arguments opposed to those previously advanced.

1534 More (title) The Answer to the First Part of the Poysoned Booke. 1578 Timme Calvin on Gen. 214 If any man object..the aunswere is easy to be made. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. 1653 Pref. 13 A loving answer to all such as shall hereafter find fault with his Book. 1798 Wolcott (P. Pindar) Tales of Hoy Wks. 1812 IV. 425 An answer is inserted, he answers the answer with blacker inventions. 1846 L. Lockhart (title) An Answer to the Protest of the Free Church. a 1884 Mod. A sufficient answer to all your objections.

    3. A reply (spoken, written, or otherwise given) to a question. (The most common use.)

a 800 Beowulf 5713 Grim andswaru. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xix. 9 Se hælend ondsuare ne salde him [Rushw. ondswora]. c 1000 Ags. G. ibid., Him ne sealde nane andsware. c 1160 Hatton G., Nane andswere. c 1230 Ancr. R. 8 Him þuncheð wunder..of swuch onswere. c 1325 Leg. Rood (1871) 111 Þe messagers him gaf ansquare. 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 60 Quhen thai hard nane mak ansuer, Thai brak the dur. 1580 J. Frampton Joyf. Newes, in James I's Counterbl. (Arb.) 82 Geuing them continually doubtfull answeares. 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. ii. 42, I will bee a foole in question, hoping to bee the wiser by your answer. 1714 Spect. No. 625 ¶1 The following Letter of Queries, with his Answers to each Question. 1850 Lynch Theoph. Trin. 5 To this question there is no answer.

    4. a. A reply to an appeal, address, remark, letter, etc.; anything said or written in reference to, or acknowledgement of, what another has said or written; a response, rejoinder.

c 1200 Ormin 12016 Alls iff þe Laferrd ȝæfe þuss Anndsware onnȝæn þe deofell. 1382 Wyclif Prov. xv. 1 A nesshe onswere breketh wrathe. 1388 Ibid. A soft answere brekith ire. 1400 Ld. Grey in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. i. I. 5 An other lettre that I have send to hym agayn of an Answare. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 106 So plesaunt of ansuere unto her husbonde. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. vii. 72 Had you beene as wise as bold..Your answere had not beene inscrold. 1611 Bible Job xix. 16, I called my seruant, and he gaue me no answere. 1771 Junius Lett. liv. 281 His letter to me does not deserve an answer. 1859 Tennyson Enid 995 He flung a wrathful answer back.

    b. answer-back: a rejoinder or repartee; also fig.

1924 J. A. Thomson Sci. Old & New xvi. 90 First there is the gall—an answer-back which the plant makes to the irritation which follows when the gall-midge lays an egg in the soft tissue. 1925 ― Sci. & Relig. vi. §9. 194 The struggle for existence is a formula covering all the answers-back that organisms make to environing difficulties.

    c. In catch-phr. —'s answer to (..): applied (often ironically) to something or someone promoted by one place, group, etc., as a rival to a celebrated example from elsewhere.

[1940 B. I. Evans Short Hist. Eng. Lit. xiii. 208 The Quarterly Review (1809) began publication as a Tory answer to the Edinburgh.] 1966 N. Rorem Paris Diary xi. 226 For years she's been Europe's answer to Louella Parsons. 1970 T. Wood Bright Side Billy Wilder xv. 167 Erich Maria Remarque..was then editor of Die Dame, Ullstein's answer to Vogue Magazine. 1973 Times 30 May 11/4 A ghastly talent-spotting show with smirking juveniles being mobilized by a Seattle's answer to Harry Lauder. 1974 Maclean's Mag. Apr. 94 Calling a magazine Success doesn't necessarily make it one, either. At last report, Canada's answer to Playboy and Penthouse was close to folding. 1986 Daily Tel. 29 Apr. 15/1 Norway has had enough of the man described..as Norway's answer to Kim Philby.

    5. The reply to an implied question; decision upon a point at issue.

1466 Mercers' Accts. in Blades Caxton 151 As for yo{supr} desire of aunsware of the lordes intent. 1599 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 143 Is not this the day That Hermia should giue answer of her choice? a 1842 Tennyson Two Voices 309 There must be answer to his doubt. 1875 Maine Hist. Inst. ii. 42 The Responsa Prudentum—the accumulated answers (= judgments in Brehon law) of many successive generations of famous Roman lawyers.

    6. a. The solution of a problem of any kind; and, by extension: Any work solving a problem or performing an exercise set to test knowledge.

1592 R. Field (title) Firste Booke of Arithmeticke; sheweing the ingenius inventions and figurative operations by whiche to calculate the true Solution or Answers to Arithmeticall Questions. 1686 I. Speidel (title) An Arithmetical Extraction; or, a Collection of 800 Questions with their Answers. 1742 Bailey, Answer..the Solution of a Mathematical Question, an ænigma, &c. 1881 L. Hensley (title) The Scholar's Arithmetic, with Answers to the Examples.

    b. to know all the answers, to be fully knowledgeable or expert; to be worldly-wise or experienced. (Cf. similar colloq. phrases s.v. know v. 15.)

1933 G. Laven Rough Stuff p. ix, To know all the questions and answers, to know your way about. To be clever in things relating to crime and law-breaking. 1935 G. & S. Lorimer Heart Specialist v. 128 ‘You may be one of these carefully reared dames,’ he said with a trace of doubt in his voice, ‘but you sure know all the answers.’ 1937 C. Boothe The Women in Famous Plays 1937 622 Miriam. Getting wise, aren't you? Mary. Know all the answers. 1940 J. Thurber Fables for Our Time xii. 30 It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all the answers. 1955 A. L. Rowse Expansion Eliz. Eng. x. 408 The positive old lady in the garden, who knew all the answers and could not be told anything, had not ceased to be a marvellous politician. 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ii. iii. 367 She'd been a glamour girl, but she knew all the answers.

    7. A practical reply; anything done in return; a responsive, corresponding, or resulting action. In Fencing, the return hit.

1535 Coverdale Gen. xli. 16 God shall geue Pharao a prosperous answere. 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 280 If Hamlet give the first or second hit, or quit in answer of the third exchange. 1611 ― Cymb. v. iii. 79 Great the slaughter is Heere made by 'th' Romane; great the answer be Britaines must take. 1845 Darwin Voy. Nat. iv. 64 The answer was given by a volley of musketry.

    8. A re-echoing or reproduction of sounds.

1869 Ouseley Counterpoint, &c. xix. 152 Essentially the answer may be regarded as a transposition of the subject. 1880 Grove Dict. Mus. I. 69/2 An answer in music is, in strict counterpoint, the repetition by one part or instrument of a theme proposed by another.

    9. Comb. answer-jobber, one who makes a trade of writing answers; answer print Cinemat. (see quot. 1940).

1711 Swift Barrier Treaty (J.) This race of *answer-jobbers..have no sort of conscience in their dealing. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict., *Answer print, the first print from the edited negative, shown to the producers of the sound-film for final approval before release. 1959 Halas & Manvell Technique Film Anim. xix. 234 The studio manager..records deadline dates for line-tests, rough cuts and answer print screenings.

    
    

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     ▸ the answer to one's prayers and variants: the occurrence of an event for which one has prayed; (hence) a greatly desired solution. Cf. the answer to a maiden's prayer at maiden n. 1b.

1848 New Englander (New Haven, Connecticut) Oct. 604/2 In 1831, the church shared largely in the quickening movement which made that year memorable..; and he saw the success of his labors and the answer to his prayers. 1901 Fitchburg (Mass.) Daily Sentinel 9 Nov. 3/4 As it must happen in this world, the answer to our prayers comes in a way and at a cost we little dream of. 1947 V. Davies Miracle on 34th St. xvi. 106 This guy Kringle's the answer to our prayers! 1988 M. Gold And Hannah Wept v. 115 For other couples, in vitro fertilization can be the answer to their prayers for a child. 2000 Daily Mail (Nexis) 24 June 65 But with ever increasing pressure on manufacturers worldwide to deliver greater fuel efficiency, the IVT appears to offer an irresistible answer to their prayers.

▪ II. answer, v.
    Forms: 1 and-, ond-, -swarian, -suarian, -sworian, -swerian, 2 ænd- andswarien, -erien, 2–3 an- onswerien, 3 andswaren, -eren, ond- onswere(n, un- onsquare, 3–4 answere(n, 4 an- on- unswar(e, answer-n, ansuerye, 4–5 ansuere, aunswar(e, 4–7 answere, 5 unswer, 5–7 aun-, awnswer(e, 7 answeare, 4– answer.
    [OE. andswar-ian, direct deriv. of n. andswaru (see prec.). Thus, orig. used of rebutting a charge or accusation; its extension to the common sense of reply is parallel to that of the Gr. ἀποκρίν-εσθαι, f. ἀπό off + κρίν-ειν to judge, condemn, i.e. to get oneself off from judgement; and the L. re-spondēre, f. re- back, undoing + spondēre to pledge oneself, undertake a liability, hence to rebut a liability or legal obligation.]
    Gen. sign. I. To make a statement in reply to a legal charge; to meet a charge of any kind; to be liable so to do, or to suffer the consequences, to atone, pay the penalty. II. To speak (write) or act, in reply to a question, remark, or expression of will or opinion, or in response to a mere sound or sign. III. To act in response to an act, imitatively, suitably, consequently; to be so constituted as to imitate, fit, suit; to be in physical or mental conformity or logical consequence to anything. Originally intr., with dat.; but through various elisions and levelling of inflexions at length also used trans. in nearly every sense.
    I. To answer to a charge.
    1. intr. To speak in reply or opposition to a charge or accusation, to make a rebutting statement, defend oneself. a. simply.

c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xxi. 14 Ne ᵹie fore-ðencᵹæ huu ᵹie ondsuariᵹa [Rushw. ondsworiᵹað]. c 1000 Ags. G. ibid., Hu ᵹe andswarian. c 1160 Hatton G., Andswerien. 1297 R. Glouc. 194 We þe setteþ day of þys nexte yere, At Rome uorto ansuerye. c 1400 Beryn 2092 Graunte me day til to morow, that I myȝt be avisid To answere forth. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iv. ii. 25 How answer you for your selues? 1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edw. II, §51 (1876) 35 He..shall aunswere before the steward..if any complaint be made. 1687 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 403 Then he was ordered immediately to answer over. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 397 That the defendant do answer over, respondeat ouster; that is, put in a more substantial plea. Mod. To answer at the bar of public opinion.

    b. with for. To answer charges in regard to; to be responsible or accountable for.

1384 Wyclif De Eccles. viii. Wks. III. 357 He shal answere for þes soulis þat his children leesen. 1582 Lyly in 4 Cent. Eng Lett. 39 Before whome for my speache I shal aunswer. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. v. i. 13 We that haue good wits, haue much to answer for. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 263 ¶1, I have no outrageous Offence against my own excellent Parents to answer for. 1838 Lytton Leila i. 6, I answer alone to Allah for my motives.

    2. intr. To speak or make a statement in behalf of another; to undertake responsibility for. spec. To stand sponsor (for a child).

c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 17 Here godfaderes sullen for hem andswerie bifore þe prest ate fanstone. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour iij b, How euery good woman ought to ansuere for her lord in al thinge. 1611 Bible Gen. xxx. 33 So shall my righteousnesse answere for mee. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 71 The late king and queen, then prince and princess, answered for his son.

    3. intr. To undertake a responsibility, to guarantee, give an assurance. Const. for.

1728 Pope Dunc. Advt., I cannot answer but some mistakes may have slipt into [this edition]. 1866 Mrs. Gaskell Wives & Dau. II. xxi. 326 ‘I'll answer for it Mrs. Goodenough saw Molly’..When Miss Browning ‘answered for it’ Miss Phoebe gave up doubting. 1881 Daily Tel. 27 Dec., A musical monarch, whose tunefulness is answered for by Mr. Henry Nordblom.

    4. a. trans. To make a defence against (a charge); hence, b. To give a satisfactory answer for, to justify. arch.

1552 Huloet, Answer an action, or plaint, Dicere causam. c 1590 Marlowe Faust. (2nd vers.) 124 We were best look that your devil can answer the stealing of this same cup. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 307 How they will answer it..at the last day I know not. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §125 The Proprietors could not answer it to the public..if they kept me in waiting.

    5. To reply to, meet, or rebut an objection or argument. † a. intr. Obs. b. trans.

c 1305 St. Kath. (in E.E.P. 1862) 33 Mid oþer reisouns of clergie Þat maide preouede also þat here godes noþing nere..Þemperour stod and ne couþe answerie in non wise. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. iv. 161 Whan I haue..ansewered to þo resouns by whiche þou art ymoeued. c 1526 Frith Disput. Purg. (1829) 107 Let us see how he answereth the argument. 1581 Charke in Confer. iv. (1584) F f b, You haue so often chalenged vs to answere you an argument. 1635 A. Stafford Fem. Glory (1869) 81, I determined to answeare his Forgeries. Mod. So far as I know, that protest has never been answered. No attempt has been made to answer my objections. Some theologians of Queen's College essayed to answer Locke.

    6. To meet the charge in regard to (an act) practically; to suffer the consequences, atone for, make amends. a. intr. Const. for (to obs.).

1297 R. Glouc. 53 Ȝef ys neuew hadde mysdo..he scholde Onswere to eche mon. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iii. ii. 85 If it were so, it were a grievous fault And grievouslie hath Caesar answered for it. 1710 W. Mather Yng. Man's Comp. (1727) 122 The Husband must answer to his Wive's Faults; if she wrong another..he must make Satisfaction.

    † b. trans., esp. with it as obj. Obs.

1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. ii. 96 Stanley looke to your Wife: if she conuey Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. 1625 Donne Serm. cl. Wks. VI. 61 Whosoever is dead in that family by thy negligence, thou shall answer the King that subject. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. i. 31 If you receive not the Light you must answer it.

    7. To satisfy a pecuniary claim. † a. intr. To be responsible for payment of the claim. Const. of, for. Obs.

1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxv. 230 The lordes of euery toun wher suche thyng shold be taxed..shold ansuere to the kyng therof. 1628 Coke On Litt. 54 a, Tenant in dower..shall answer for the waste done by a stranger.

    † b. trans. To account to or satisfy (a person) of or for the claim; to repay, recompense. Obs.

1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle i. xvii. (1859) 18 By whiche caucyon he myght bynd hym self for to ansuere me yf that his accyon be desalowyd. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccviii. 467 We wolde demaunde good hostages and sufficient, to answere vs of our horses agayne. 1577 Holinshed Chron. II. 240 The emperour declared plainlie that he would be answered for such summes of monie as king Richard had taken. 1641 Baker Chron. (1679) 231/1 That King Richard should yearly pay and answer the Duke of all the revenues.

    c. trans. To satisfy (the claim), discharge (a debt), pay (the sum legally demanded); hence, to be sufficient for, meet (a pecuniary liability).

1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. iv. (1588) 177 Their armour and weapon shall be prised, and the same answered to the use of the Queenes Maiestie. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 185 This proud King, who studies..To answer all the Debt he owes vnto you. 1608 Yorksh. Trag. i. ii, His fortunes cannot answer his expense. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law 60 The third part must descend to the heire to answer guardship. 1710 in Lond. Gaz. mmmmdclxxiii/3 Officer for any refusal or neglect of his Duty, to answer Damages. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch's Lives (1879) I. 386/1 A fine which his circumstances could not answer. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley i. 6 A few shillings..to answer any sudden occasion.

    ¶ In senses 8–11 the idea of compensation is linked with that of correspondence; cf. III.
    † 8. a. trans. To prove a satisfactory return or equivalent for (an expenditure); to repay, recoup. Obs.

1596 Bp. Barlow 3 Serm. Ded. 81 Yet did they not answer either the threshers labour, or the owners measure. 1673 Ray Journ. Low Countr. Pref., Nothing..which might answer their trouble and expence. 1731 Swift Corr. II. 649 The maid will..sell more butter and cheese than will answer her wages. 1780 W. Coxe Russ. Discov. 7 No crop..sufficient..to answer the pains and expence of raising it.

    † b. To repay, pay (a person). Obs. rare.

1587 Fleming Cont. Holinshed's Chron. III. 415/1 The said countries, which with their riches by common estimation answered the emperour Charles equallie to his Indies.

    c. intr. To be advantageous, or servicable to.

1850 Lytton Wks. II. viii. iii. 15 If Beatrice di Negra would indeed be rich, she might answer to himself as a wife. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. V. xiii. viii. 90 He was in the way of making such investments..and found them answer to him.

    9. trans. To satisfy or fulfil (wishes, hopes, expectations, etc.).

1653 Walton Angler i. 2, I shall almost answer your hopes. 1673 Cave Prim. Chr. i. i. 3 This he well foresaw and the event truly answered it. 1765 Wilkes Corr. (1805) II. 137 Were you here with me, my fondest wishes would be answered. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 126 The result answered his expectations.

    10. a. trans. To fulfil or accomplish (an end); to suit (a purpose).

1714 Grove Spect. No. 588 ¶2 In both Cases the Ends of Self Love are equally answered. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones vii. xiii, I applied a fomentation..which highly answered the intention. 1790 Paley Hor. Paul. i. 8 My design will be fully answered. 1877 Mozley Univ. Serm. ii. 33 Less severity would not have answered his purpose.

    b. trans. To fulfil, satisfy the requirements, etc. of (a person); to suit.

1816 Scott Antiq. xvi. (1829) 105 He offered him a beast he thought wad answer him weel eneugh.

    11. intr. (ellipt.). To serve the purpose, attain the end, succeed, prove a success. Also (with suitable qualification): To turn out (well or ill).

1783 Cowper Lett. 19 Jan., Their labour was almost in vain before, but now it answers. 1785 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) I. 488 If they find our timber answer. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. 27 It answered better as a speculation to convert arable land into pasture. c 1865 J. Wylde in Circ. Sc. I. 314/1 Boxwood charcoal answers best for this purpose.

    II. To answer a question, remark, etc.
    12. To speak or write in reply to a question, remark, or any expression of desire or opinion; to reply, respond, rejoin; also To reply to an implied question, to solve a doubt.
    Const. a. simply; b. to a person; c. a person as indirect (dat.) obj.; d. to or unto the question, etc.; e. the question, etc., as obj.; spec. in Horse-racing, to answer (the question): (of a horse) to respond to a call made by the jockey (cf. to ask the question, ask v. 2 b); † f. (combining c and d) a person to his question; g. (combining c and e) a person his question; h. with the answer as subordinate objective sentence, or clause introduced by that; i. with the answer as simple obj., n. or pron.; j. (combining b or c and h); k. (combining b or c and i); l. (combining d and h); m. (combining d and i).

a. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 129 He answerede þus, que⁓ðinde. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 437 The byschop hard him swa ansuer. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 195 Why prat'st thou to thy selfe, and answer'st not? 1765 H. Walpole Cast. Otranto v. (1798) 79 Thou answerest from the point. a 1842 Tennyson Miller's Dau. 118 Will she answer if I call?

b. c 1230 Ancr. R. 10 O þisse wise answerieð to þeo þet askeð ou of ower ordre. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 68, I þe Lord schal ansuere to him. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour iij b, No good woman ought to ansuere to her husbond whan he is wrothe. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iii. iii. 61 Answer to us. 1842 Tennyson Love & Duty 28 To that man My work shall answer.

c. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xviii. 22 Ondsuæræstu suæ ðæm biscobi. c 1000 Ags. G. ibid., Andswarast ðu swa ðam bisceope. c 1160 Hatton G. ibid., ændswerest þu swa þam biscoppe. a 1300 Cursor M. 1304 Mildely he him þam vnsquerede. 1450 Myrc 930 Unsware thow me. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. iii. 78 Should I haue answer'd Caius Cassius so? 1611 Bible Prov. xxvi. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly. 1791 Cowper Iliad iv. 490 Whom with a frowning brow, the brave Tydides answer'd. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 286 Lancelot spoke And answered him at full.

d. c 1400 Destr. Troy xxxiv. 13266 To all thing he answarit abilly. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. v. 35 Is thy newes good or bad? answere to that. 1699 Bentley Phal. Pref. 68 Mr. B. here answers to a Question, that never was ask'd him. 1881 N. T. (Revised) Luke xiv. 6 They could not answer again unto these things.

e. 1722 De Foe Plague 67 To answer their question directly. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 465 My lady's cousin Answered all queries touching those at home. 1894 H. Custance Riding Recoll. vi. 88, I..asked ‘King Lud’ the question. He answered in the most generous manner possible,..and won. 1894 Idler June 545 The certain winner of the Derby—if he is able to answer the question I am going to put to him.

f. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2079 Ariadne in this manere Answerde [v.r. ansuerd] hym to his profre. 1526 Tindale Luke xiv. 6 They coulde not answer him agayne to that. 1611 Bible Ibid. They could not answere him againe to these things. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. i. 60 Answer me To what I aske you.

g. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 238 Ere thou go, but answer me one doubt. Mod. Answer me this question.

h. a 1300 Cursor M. 1095 He onsquared [v.r. ansuerd, vnswerd]..Quen was I keper of þi childe. 1340 Ayenb. 190 He ansuerede þet he ne hedde bote þri pans. 1611 Bible Acts xxii. 8, I answered, Who art thou, Lord? 1733 Pope Mor. Ess. i. 84 Wks. 1735 II. ii. 5 The mighty Czar might answer, he was drunk. 1860 O. Meredith Lucille i. iv. xxi, Who can answer where any road leads to?

i. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 12 Whanne he was acusid..he answerid nothing. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 196 Fyrst wold I here, What he wold answere. 1860 Dickens Uncomm. Trav. xv. (1866) 109/1 Chips answered never a word.

j. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 45 Paul him onswerde, Lauerd ic biwepe þas monifolde pine. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 4107 God hem andswerede, ‘iosue Ic wile ben loder-man after ðe.’ 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ii. 11 To whom he aunswerd wroth, ‘loe there thy hire.’ 1611 Bible Acts xxv. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the maner of the Romanes, etc.

k. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 40 Ne wiston huæd scealdon onsuæreᵹa him. c 1160 Hatton G. ibid., Nyston hwæt hyo him andswereden. c 1230 Ancr. R. 96 Ne answerie ȝe him nowiht. 1611 Bible Job xxiii. 5 The words which he would answere me. ― Matt. xxii. 46 No man was able to answere him a word.

l. 1382 Wyclif Acts xxv. 16 To whiche I answerid that, etc. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. I. 269 To this I answer that admitting, etc.

m. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. vi. 45 What answeres Clarence to his Soueraignes will?

    13. Coupled with say. Sometimes without preceding question. (A Hellenism of the N.T.) arch.

c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John iii. 9 Ða andswarode Nichodemus & cwæð. Hu maᵹon þas þing þus ᵹeweorðan? c 1160 Hatton G. ibid., Ða andswerede N. & cwæð. c 1220 Hali Meid. 3 Ho mei onsweren & seien. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 466 Unswered þe monk, and sayde ryȝt þus. 1526 Tindale Luke xiii. 25 He shall answer and saye vnto you: I knowe you not. 1611 Bible Mark xi. 14 And Jesus answered, and said vnto it, No man eate fruit of thee hereafter.

    14. To make a rejoinder to anything authoritative or final, or where silence or acquiescence would be proper; to reply impertinently. Also, to answer back.

1526 Tindale Tit. ii. 9 The servauntes exhort..to please in all thynges, not answerynge agayne. [So 1611; Wyclif, aȝeinseiynge]. 1853 Lytton My Novel i. xiii. 53 Mrs. Hazeldean (observing Frank colouring, and about to reply).—Hush, Frank, never answer your father. a 1884 Mod. You should never answer back. 1904 Stanislaus Joyce Dublin Diary (1962) 52 She is obstinate and inclined to answer back a great deal. 1926 Sat. Rev. 20 Mar. 376/1 In dialogue the characters do not answer so much as answer back. 1929 H. G. Wells King who was King ii. §4. 66 The King receives him coldly and admonishes him with evident severity... Against all etiquette he answers back. 1937 F. Stark Baghdad Sketches 172 One who, after many years of patient trampling upon, suddenly answers back. 1948 Daily Herald 7 Aug. 2/2 This sort of person is compensating himself for not being allowed to Answer Back as a child.

    15. trans. or absol. To solve a problem put in the form of a question; to perform the exercises or ‘questions’ set in an examination paper.

1742 Bailey, To Answer..to solve a Proposition or Question in Arithmetick or Geometry, &c. by declaring what the Amount is. 1868 M. Pattison Acad. Organ. 294 The student himself will tell you that he answered such a paper ‘out of Grote,’ and such another ‘out of Maine’ or ‘Austin.’ Ibid. 296 No candidate would be expected in three hours to answer all the thirteen [questions]. a 1884 Mod. You have answered very well.

    16. to answer to a name: lit. to answer when addressed by that name, and thus to acknowledge it as one's own; to have the name of.

1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. iv. 73, I answer to that name, what is your will? 1607 ― Cor. v. i. 12 Coriolanus He would not answer to: Forbad all names. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 12 ¶5 A spaniel..that answers to the name of Ranger.

    17. To say or sing antiphonally.

1611 Bible 1 Sam. xviii. 7 The women answered one another, as they played. 1697 Dryden Virg. Ecl. vii. 4 Both alike inspir'd To sing, and answer as the Song requir'd.

    18. To make a responsive sound, as an echo.

c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2193 The holwe rokkis answerden hire a-gayn. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 33 The rolling sea, resounding soft, In his big base them fitly answered. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 862 With other echo late I taught your Shades To answer. 1709 Pope Summer 16 The woods shall answer, and their echo ring. 1847 Tennyson Princ. Prol. 66 Echo answer'd in her sleep From hollow fields.

    19. a. To reply favourably to (a petitioner), or conformably to (his petition). Cf. 9.

1593 Shakes. Lucr. 1606 At length addressed to answer his desire. 1611 Bible Ps. xxvii. 7 Haue mercie also vpon mee, and answere me. 1648 Milton Ps. lxxxvi. 24 Thou wilt..Answer what I prayed. 1689 Col. Records Penn. I. 313 With reluctancy to answer my Request. 1864 Tennyson Boadicea 22 The Gods have heard it, O Icenian!..Doubt not ye the Gods have answer'd.

    † b. To give or administer (anything) in answer to petition. Obs. rare.

1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinsh. II. 151/2 Hir maiesties principall and high courts, to answer the law to all sutors throughout the whole realme.

    20. To reply to what is practically a request, as a knock at the door, a bell, or other signal. a. intr.

1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 6 Knock but at the gate, and he himself will answer. 1722 De Foe Plague 51 They knocked at the door, but nobody answered.

    b. trans. To answer the door, the bell, etc.

1862 Mrs. H. Wood Channings II. 349 He answers all the rings at the yard bell. 1866 W. Collins Armadale III. 205 The woman had left us to answer the door. 1878 Halliwell Dict. s.v., At a farm-house near South Petherton, a maidservant was recently asked why she did not answer the door. The girl replied..‘Why—why—why, if you plaze, mim, I—I—I did'n hear'n speak.’

    21. To make a sign of any kind in response to, or acknowledgement of, any signal. a. intr. b. trans.

1805 E. Berry in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 117 At daylight I made the Private Signal which was not answered. a 1884 Mod. He gave a nod; I answered with a wink.

    III. To answer in similarity, to correspond.
    22. trans. To act in conformity with (any indication of will or law), to obey; esp. of a ship: to answer the helm.

1610 Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 190, I come To answer thy best pleasure. 1637 Milton Comus 888 Bridle in thy headlong wave Till thou our summons answered have. 1738 J. Keill Anim. Œcon. Pref. 11 That the Indications..are right, or such as, if answered, would cure the Disease. 1854 G. Richardson Univ. Code v., 2578 = Will not answer her helm.

    23. intr. To act in sympathy with, or in response (to), action on the part of another.

1684 R. Waller Ess. Nat. Exper. 6 The former immediately answer to the least change of the Air. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 274 The Glebe will answer to the Sylvan Reign, Great Heats will follow, and large Crops of Grain. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. 2 The girl instantly answered to the action in her sculling.

    24. trans. To repeat the action of, correspond to.

1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. Prol. 8 Fire answers fire. 1603 ― Meas. for M. v. i. 415 Haste still paies haste, and leasure answers leasure.

    25. trans. To give back in kind, to return, render.

1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 231 They bee so ready..not to aunswere, but to offer, force and violence, even to Kings and Princes. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. i. 24 Well did the squire perceive himselfe too weake To aunswere his defiaunce in the field. 1601 Cornwallyes Seneca (1631) 44 Able to answere feast with feast. 1793 Holcroft Lavater's Physiog. xxxi. 163 To answer wit with reason is like endeavouring to hold an eel by the tail. 1827 Keble Chr. Y. 24 S. Trin. iv. 2 Answering love for love.

    † 26. trans. To return the hostile action of (a person), meet in fight, encounter. Obs.

c 1400 Destr. Troy xx. 8274 Or hit auntrid hym to aunsware Ector agayne. 1468 J. Paston in Lett. 585 II. 317 My Lord the Bastard, took upon hym to answere xxiiij. knyts and gentylmen..at jostys of pese. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinsh. II. 155/1 His Gallowglasses were good men to incounter with Gallowglasses, and not to answer old souldiers.

    27. intr. To correspond in number, shape, size, position, appearance, fitness, or other characteristics. Const. to (against, with, obs.).

c 1230 Ancr. R. 94 Euerichones mede þer scal onswerien aȝein þe swinc..þet heo her uor his luue edmodliche þolieð. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §10. 22 Whiche bordure is answering to the degrees of the equinoxial. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. i. (in Ashm. 1652) 130 Every Burgeon answereth to his owne Seed. 1563 J. Shute Archit. D iij b, The Proiecture of Them doth answer iustly with the thicknes of the pillor. 1611 Bible Gal. iv. 25 This Agar..answereth to Ierusalem, which now is. 1794 Paley Nat. Theol. xi. §1 (1819) 169 The right arm answers accurately to the left both in size and shape. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 420 It answers to the description of Strabo.

    † 28. trans. To correspond with (as in prec.), come up to. Obs. or arch.

1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 133 So many..as now the number of all sorts cannot answer. 1671 Milton Samson 1090 If thy appearance answer loud report. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. v. (1690) 241 The Terms of our Law..will hardly find Words that answer them in the Spanish, or Italian. 1775 Sheridan Duenna ii. ii, I wish she had answered her picture as well. 1789 Smyth tr. Aldrich's Archit. (1818) 146 Opposite to these..the rooms for the wine presses answered the baths.

    † 29. causal. To cause to correspond or agree to.

1713 Swift Caden. & Van. Wks. 1755 III. ii. 18 He could not answer to his fame The triumphs of that stubborn dame.

Oxford English Dictionary