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.
She answers him as if she knew his mind. --Shak.
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . .
And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
--Milton.
3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like;
to refute.
No man was able to answer him a word. --Matt. xxii.
46.
These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
--Milton.
The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
--Macaulay.
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.
This proud king . . . studies day and night To
answer all the debts he owes unto you. --Shak.
(b) To render account to or for.
I will . . . send him to answer thee. --Shak.
(c) To atone; to be punished for.
And grievously hath C[ae]zar answered it.
--Shak.
(d) To be opposite to; to face.
The windows answering each other, we could just
discern the glowing horizon them. --Gilpin.
(e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or
sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.]
Money answereth all things. --Eccles. x.
19.
(f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation,
or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they
answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
--Swift.
There was no voice, nor any that answered. --1 Kings
xviii. 26.
2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To
render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable;
to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer
for the money intrusted to his care.
Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial
law. --Shak.
3. To be or act in return. Hence:
(a) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment,
reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose;
as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils.
Do the strings answer to thy noble hand?
--Dryden.
(b) To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
(c) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or
sufficient; as, a very few will answer.
(d) 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 have all shadow and silence in
it, and the place answer to convenience. --Shak.
If this but answer to my just belief, I 'll
remember you. --Shak.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart
of man to man. --Pro?. xxvii.
19.
At my first answer no man stood with me. --2 Tim.
iv. 16.
2. Something said or written in reply to a question, a call,
an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
A soft answer turneth away wrath. --Prov. xv. 1.
I called him, but he gave me no answer. --Cant. v.
6.
3. Something done in return for, or in consequence of,
something else; a responsive action.
Great the slaughter is Here made by the Roman; great
the answer be Britons must take. --Shak.
4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as,
the answer to a problem.
5. (Law) A counter-statement of facts in a course of
pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has
alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to
a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to
the complainant's charges in his bill. --Bouvier.
Syn: Reply; rejoinder; response. See {Reply}.