Answer \An"swer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Answered; 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.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Answer \An"swer\, v. i.

1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Answer \An"swer\, n. [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. ?, ?. See Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-.]

1. A reply to a change; a defense.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)