answer

English Online Dictionary. What means answer‎? What does answer mean?

English

Wikiquote

Alternative forms

• answeare, aunswer, aunswere (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɑːn.sə/, /ˈan.sə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæn.sɚ/
  • (æ-tensing, rhotic) IPA^(key): [ˈeən.sɚ]
  • (æ-tensing, non-rhotic) IPA^(key): [ˈeən.sə]
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈæn.sə/
  • (æ-tensing) IPA^(key): [ˈeːnsə ~ ˈɛːnsə]
  • (trap–bath split, South Australia) IPA^(key): [ˈɐːnsə]
• Hyphenation: an‧swer
• Rhymes: -ɑːnsə(ɹ), -ænsə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

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”).

Noun

answer (plural answers)

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

2. A solution to a problem.

   There is no simple answer to corruption.

   Violence is not the answer to disagreements.

3. (after a possessive, with to) Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.
4. (law) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• ask

Etymology 2

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”).

Verb

answer (third-person singular simple present answers, present participle answering, simple past and past participle answered)

1. (ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to.

2. (transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.

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

4. (ambitransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.

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

   Synonym: answer for
6. (law) 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,^[2]

     Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.
8. To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
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.
10. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
11. To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
12. (obsolete) To render account to or for.
13. (obsolete) To atone for; to be punished for.
14. (obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• question

Anagrams

• Warnes, awners, resawn

Middle English

Noun

answer

1. Alternative form of answere