Word: answer Part of Speech: 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”). Pronunciation: /ˈɑːn.sə/, /ˈa̝n.sə/, /ˈæn.sɚ/, [ˈeən.sɚ], /ˈæn.sə/ 1. To make a reply or response to. Labels: ambitransitive Example: She answers him as if she knew his mind: Example: […] there was no voice, nor any that answered. 2. To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence. Labels: transitive Example: 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. Labels: ambitransitive Example: She answered the door. Example: Nobody answered when I knocked on the door. 4. To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily. Labels: ambitransitive Example: It answers the need. Example: 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. Example: The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care. Example: 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. Example: 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. Example: 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. Example: 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. Example: […] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conuenience Example: 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. Example: […] no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. Example: 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. Example: He answered my claim upon him. Example: The servant answered the bell. 12. To render account to or for. Labels: obsolete Example: […] 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. Labels: obsolete Example: […] 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. Labels: obsolete Example: A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.