answer
Part of speech: noun
verb
Morphological type: derivation
Topics: law
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”).
Base: swaru
Affixes: and-
Inflected forms:
form: answers
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: answeare
pos: noun
tags: alternative
obsolete
form: aunswer
pos: noun
tags: alternative
obsolete
form: aunswere
pos: noun
tags: alternative
obsolete
form: answers
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: answering
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: answered
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: answered
pos: verb
tags: past
form: answeare
pos: verb
tags: alternative
obsolete
form: aunswer
pos: verb
tags: alternative
obsolete
form: aunswere
pos: verb
tags: alternative
obsolete
Senses:
gloss: A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
pos: noun
examples: 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.
gloss: A solution to a problem.
pos: noun
examples: There is no simple answer to corruption.
Violence is not the answer to disagreements.
gloss: Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.
pos: noun
examples: 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.
gloss: A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
pos: noun
gloss: To make a reply or response to.
pos: verb
tags: ambitransitive
examples: She answers him as if she knew his mind:
[…] there was no voice, nor any that answered.
“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.
He answered the question.
gloss: To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: to answer a charge or accusation
gloss: To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
pos: verb
tags: ambitransitive
examples: She answered the door.
Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
gloss: To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
pos: verb
tags: ambitransitive
examples: 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.
Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — "That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don't like it. […]
Of course for publication in a newspaper, my palaeotype would not answer, but my glossotype would enable the author to give his Pennsylvania German in an English form and much more intelligibly.
Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and "answering every purpose" was one of them.
gloss: To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
pos: verb
examples: The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
He has a lot to answer for.
And pleaſe your Maiestie, let his Neck anſwere for it, if there is any Marſhall Law in the World.
gloss: To file a document in response to a complaint.
pos: verb
gloss: To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
pos: verb
examples: 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.
Before I knew about sex, I knew that the word queer was an insult associated with skiny boys who couldn't throw a football, and since I answered this description, I took my share of abuse.
gloss: To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
pos: verb
examples: The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]
gloss: To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
pos: verb
examples: […] 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.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
[…] I might carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person.
gloss: To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
pos: verb
examples: […] 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,
The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
gloss: To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
pos: verb
examples: 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
The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won't answer the helm so well.
gloss: To render account to or for.
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
examples: […] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:
gloss: To atone for; to be punished for.
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
examples: […] 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.
gloss: To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
examples: A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Related words: ask
question
Derived words: answerability
answer engine
answer key
answerless
answer on a postcard
answer phone
answerphone
answer print
answer set programming
answer sheet
answer song
answer to someone's prayers
answer up
autoanswer
back answer
counteranswer
male answer syndrome
multianswer
non-answer
nonanswer
short-answer
take no for an answer
the answer to a maiden's prayer
answerable
answer at
answer back
answerer
answer for
answering machine
answering service
answer someone's prayers
answer the call
answer the call of nature
answer the helm
answer to
foreanswer
misanswer
reanswer
unanswered
Translations:
lang: Afrikaans
word: antwoord
lang: Albanian
word: përgjigje
lang: Southern Altai
word: каруу
roman: karuu
lang: Amharic
word: መልስ
roman: mäls
lang: Arabic
word: جَوَاب
roman: jawāb
lang: Arabic
word: إِجَابَة
roman: ʔijāba
lang: Arabic
word: رَدّ
roman: radd
lang: Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
word: ܓ݂ܘܼܝܵܒ݂ܵܐ
roman: ḡuyāwā
lang: Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
word: ܓ̰ܘܼܘܵܒܵܐ
roman: juwābā
lang: Argobba
word: መልስ
roman: mäls
lang: Armenian
word: պատասխան
roman: patasxan
lang: Aromanian
word: apocrisi
lang: Aromanian
word: apandisi
lang: Aromanian
word: giuvapi
lang: Asturian
word: respuesta
lang: Avar
word: жаваб
roman: žawab
lang: Azerbaijani
word: cavab
lang: Baluchi
word: جواب
roman: jawáb
lang: Bashkir
word: яуап
roman: yawap
lang: Basque
word: erantzun
lang: Belarusian
word: адка́з
roman: adkáz
lang: Belarusian
word: во́дпаведзь
roman: vódpavjedzʹ
lang: Bengali
word: উত্তর
roman: uttor
lang: Bengali
word: জবাব
roman: jobab
lang: Central Bikol
word: simbag
lang: Bislama
word: ansa
lang: Breton
word: respont
lang: Bulgarian
word: о́тговор
roman: ótgovor
lang: Burmese
word: အဖြေ
roman: a.hpre
lang: Buryat
word: харюу
roman: xarjuu
lang: Catalan
word: resposta
lang: Cebuano
word: tubag
lang: Chechen
word: жоп
roman: žop
lang: Chichewa
word: yankho
lang: Chinese Cantonese
word: 回答
roman: wui⁴ dap³
lang: Chinese Cantonese
word: 對答 /对答
roman: deoi³ dap³
lang: Chinese
word: хуэйда
roman: hueyda
lang: Chinese
word: җәвабу
roman: žəvabu
lang: Chinese
word: 回答
roman: hôe-tap / hê-tap
lang: Chinese
word: 對答 /对答
roman: tùi-tap
lang: Chinese Mandarin
word: 回答
roman: huídá
lang: Chinese Mandarin
word: 對答 /对答
roman: duìdá
lang: Wu Chinese
word: 回答
roman: ⁶we-taq
lang: Chukchi
word: татԓыӈ
roman: tatḷyṇ
lang: West Circassian
word: джэуап
roman: džɛwap
lang: Cornish
word: gorthyp
lang: Corsican
word: risposta
lang: Crimean Tatar
word: cevap
lang: Czech
word: odpověď
lang: Danish
word: svar
lang: Dutch
word: antwoord
lang: Erzya
word: каршо вал
roman: karšo val
lang: Erzya
word: пшкадема
roman: pškadema
lang: Esperanto
word: respondo
lang: Estonian
word: vastus
lang: Farefare
word: lergre
lang: Faroese
word: svar
lang: Finnish
word: vastaus
lang: French
word: réponse
lang: North Frisian
word: oonswaar
lang: North Frisian
word: uunswurd
lang: North Frisian
word: ööntüürd
lang: North Frisian
word: untwoord (Langenhorn)
lang: North Frisian
word: ountwoord (Ockholm)
lang: North Frisian
word: Swaar
lang: North Frisian
word: swoar
lang: North Frisian
word: ontuurd
lang: Saterland Frisian
word: Oantwoud
lang: Saterland Frisian
word: Ontwoud
lang: West-Frisian
word: antwurd
lang: West-Frisian
word: andert
lang: Gagauz
word: cuvap
lang: Galician
word: resposta
lang: Georgian
word: პასუხი
roman: ṗasuxi
lang: German
word: Antwort
lang: German
word: Entgegnung
lang: Gothic
word: 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳𐌹
roman: andawaurdi
lang: Gothic
word: 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰𐌷𐌰𐍆𐍄𐍃
roman: andahafts
lang: Greek
word: απάντηση
roman: apántisi
lang: Ancient Greek
word: ἀπόκρισις
roman: apókrisis
lang: Ancient Greek
word: ὑπόκρισις
roman: hupókrisis
lang: Greenlandic
word: akissut
lang: Mbya Guarani
word: mbovai
lang: Gujarati
word: જવાબ
roman: javāb
lang: Gujarati
word: ઉત્તર
roman: uttar
lang: Haitian Creole
word: repons
lang: Hawaiian
word: pane
lang: Hebrew
word: תְּשׁוּבָה
roman: t'shuvá
lang: Higaonon
word: tubag
lang: Hindi
word: जवाब
roman: javāb
lang: Hindi
word: उत्तर
roman: uttar
lang: Hungarian
word: válasz
lang: Hungarian
word: felelet
lang: Icelandic
word: svar
lang: Icelandic
word: ans
lang: Ido
word: respondo
lang: Indonesian
word: jawaban
lang: Ingrian
word: vassus
lang: Irish
word: freagra
lang: Italian
word: risposta
lang: Ivatan
word: atbay
lang: Japanese
word: 答え
roman: kotae
lang: Japanese
word: 回答
roman: kaitō
lang: Japanese
word: 応答
roman: ōtō
lang: Javanese
word: jawab
lang: Javanese
word: wales
lang: Old Javanese
word: wales
lang: Kalmyk
word: хәрү
roman: xärü
lang: Kapampangan
word: pakibat
lang: Karachay-Balkar
word: жауап
roman: jauap
lang: Kazakh
word: жауап
roman: jauap
lang: Khmer
word: ពាក្យឆ្លើយ
roman: piək chlaəy
lang: Korean
word: 대답
roman: daedap
lang: Korean
word: 회답
roman: hoedap
lang: Korean
word: 응답
roman: eungdap
lang: Korean
word: 답변
roman: dapbyeon
lang: Korean
word: 답
roman: dap
lang: Koryak
word: аӈъягыйӈын
roman: aŋyagəyŋən
lang: Kumyk
word: жавап
roman: jawap
lang: Central Kurdish
word: وەڵام
roman: wellam
lang: Northern Kurdish
word: cewab
lang: Northern Kurdish
word: bersiv
lang: Kyrgyz
word: жооп
roman: joop
lang: Kyrgyz
word: каруу
roman: karuu
lang: Lao
word: ຄຳຕອບ
roman: kham tǭp
lang: Latin
word: respōnsum
lang: Latvian
word: atbilde
lang: Lezgi
word: жаваб
roman: žavab
lang: Ligurian
word: rispósta
lang: Lithuanian
word: atsakymas
lang: Low German
word: Antwoort
lang: Low German
word: Antwuort (Hahlen)
lang: Low German
word: Antweoert (Höxter)
lang: Low German
word: Anvert (Peckelsheim)
lang: Low German
word: Antwaurt (Bottrop)
lang: Low German
word: Anwoot (Datteln)
lang: Low German
word: Anword (Königssteele)
lang: Low German
word: Antwuert (Canstein)
lang: Low German
word: Antwǫät (Iserlohn)
lang: Low German
word: Antwurt (Obermarsberg)
lang: Luxembourgish
word: Äntwert
lang: Macedonian
word: одговор
roman: odgovor
lang: Malay
word: jawaban
lang: Malay
word: jawapan
lang: Malayalam
word: ഉത്തരം
roman: uttaraṁ
lang: Malayalam
word: മറുപടി
roman: maṟupaṭi
lang: Maltese
word: wieġeb
lang: Manx
word: ansoor
lang: Manx
word: freggyrt
lang: Māori
word: whakautu
lang: Eastern Mari
word: вашмут
roman: vašmut
lang: Mirandese
word: respuosta
lang: Mongolian
word: хариу
roman: xariu
lang: Nogai
word: явап
roman: yavap
lang: Norwegian Bokmål
word: svar
lang: Norwegian Nynorsk
word: svar
lang: Occitan
word: responsa
lang: Church Slavic
word: отъвѣтъ
roman: otŭvětŭ
lang: Church Slavic
word: отповѣдь
roman: otpovědĭ
lang: Church Slavic
word: одповѣдь
roman: odpovědĭ
lang: Old English
word: andwyrde
lang: Old English
word: andswaru
lang: Old Norse
word: svar
lang: Oromo
word: deebii
lang: Pannonian Rusyn
word: одвит
roman: odvit
lang: Pashto
word: جواب
roman: jawāb
lang: Pashto
word: ځواب
roman: jwāb
lang: Dari
word: جَوَاب
roman: jawāb
lang: Dari
word: پَاسُخ
roman: pāsux
lang: Iranian Persian
word: جَواب
roman: javâb
lang: Iranian Persian
word: پاسُخ
roman: pâsox
lang: Iranian Persian
word: پِیْواژ
roman: peyvâž
lang: Plautdietsch
word: Auntwuat (nds)
lang: Polish
word: odpowiedź
lang: Portuguese
word: resposta
lang: Punjabi
word: ਜਵਾਬ
roman: javāb
lang: Romanian
word: răspuns
lang: Russian
word: отве́т
roman: otvét
lang: Russian
word: о́тповедь
roman: ótpovedʹ
lang: Northern Sami
word: vástádus
lang: Sardinian
word: rispòsta
lang: Scottish Gaelic
word: freagairt
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: о̏дгово̄р
lang: Serbo-Croatian
word: ȍdgovōr
lang: Sicilian
word: risposta
lang: Slovak
word: odpoveď
lang: Slovene
word: odgovor
lang: Somali
word: jawaab
lang: Spanish
word: respuesta
lang: Swahili
word: jibu
lang: Swahili
word: jawabu
lang: Swedish
word: svar
lang: Tagalog
word: sagot
lang: Tajik
word: жавоб
roman: žavob
lang: Tajik
word: посух
roman: posux
lang: Tamil
word: பதில்
roman: patil
lang: Tamil
word: விடை
roman: viṭai
lang: Tamil
word: மறுமொழி
roman: maṟumoḻi
lang: Tatar
word: җавап
roman: cawap
lang: Tatar
word: кару
roman: qaru
lang: Telugu
word: జవాబు
roman: javābu
lang: Telugu
word: సమాధానం
roman: samādhānaṁ
lang: Thai
word: คำตอบ
roman: kam-dtɔ̀ɔp
lang: Tongan
word: tali
lang: Turkish
word: yanıt
lang: Turkish
word: cevap
lang: Ottoman Turkish
word: جواب
roman: cevab
lang: Ottoman Turkish
word: اجابت
roman: icabet
lang: Turkmen
word: jogap
lang: Tuvan
word: харыы
roman: xarıı
lang: Ukrainian
word: ві́дповідь
roman: vídpovidʹ
lang: Urdu
word: جَواب
roman: javāb
lang: Urdu
word: اُتَّر
roman: uttar
lang: Urdu
word: پاسُخ
roman: pāsux
lang: Uyghur
word: جاۋاب
roman: jawab
lang: Uzbek
word: javob
lang: Vietnamese
word: trả lời
lang: Vietnamese
word: câu trả lời
lang: Volapük
word: gesag
lang: Waray-Waray
word: baton
lang: Waray-Waray
word: tubag
lang: Welsh
word: ateb
lang: Wolaytta
word: zaaruwa
lang: Yakut
word: эппиэт
roman: eppiet
lang: Yakut
word: харда
roman: qarda
lang: Yakut
word: хоруй
roman: qoruy
lang: Yiddish
word: ענטפֿער
roman: entfer
lang: Zazaki
word: cıwab
lang: Zazaki
word: cewab