Skip to content
Vinony

answer

noun

  1. reply; reaction to a question
  2. solution to a problem
  3. result, outcome
L42 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. give a reply or response
  2. respond, reply
  3. counteract, act in accordance to a stimulus
L961 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɑːn.sə/ / /ˈa̝n.sə/ / /ˈæn.sɚ/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-Indo-European *swer-der. Proto-Germanic *swarō Proto-Germanic *andaswarō Proto-West Germanic *andaswaru Old English andswaru Middle English answere English answer 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”).

  1. A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.

    “Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.”

    “When a student types a complex question into a chatbot, they get a polished (though not necessarily authentic, accurate or nuanced) answer in seconds.”

  2. A solution to a problem.

    “There is no simple answer to corruption.”

    “Violence is not the answer to disagreements.”

  3. Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.

    “Anti-pornography crusader Mary Whitehouse, who successfully brought London's Gay News to trial recently on charges of "blasphemy," is emerging as England's answer to Anita Bryant.”

  4. A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-Indo-European *swer-der. Proto-Germanic *swarjaną Proto-Germanic *andaswarjaną Old English andswerian Middle English answeren English answer 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 *h₂ent- (“face, forehead”) and *swer- (“to 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”).

  1. To make a reply or response to.

    “She answers him as if she knew his mind:”

    “[…] there was no voice, nor any that answered.”

  2. To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.

    “to answer a charge or accusation”

  3. To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.

    “She answered the door.”

    “Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.”

  4. To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.

    “It answers the need.”

    “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.”

  5. To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.

    “The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.”

    “He has a lot to answer for.”

  6. To file a document in response to a complaint.
  7. To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.

    “1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Dublin: G. Burnet et al., 1794, Act II, Scene 2, p. 25, 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.”

  8. To be opposite, or to act in opposition.

    “The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]”

  9. To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.

    “[…] 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.”

  10. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.

    “[…] 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,”

  11. To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.

    “He answered my claim upon him.”

    “The servant answered the bell.”

  12. To render account to or for.

    “[…] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:”

  13. To atone for; to be punished for.

    “[…] 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.”

  14. To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

    “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.”