An vs Answer - What's the difference?
an | answer |
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2
, passage=Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.}}
(UK, non-standard) used in many British regional accents before some words beginning with a pronounced h
(archaic) If, so long as.
(archaic) as if; as though.
In each; to or for each; per.
A response or reply; something said]] or [[do, done in reaction to a statement or question.
A solution to a problem.
(legal) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
(ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to.
* Bible, 1 Kings xviii. 26
* Shakespeare
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4
, passage=“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.}}
To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
(ambitransitive) To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
* Alexander Ellis
* 1903 , , (The Way of All Flesh) , Ch. 41
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
* Shakespeare
(legal) To file a document in response to a complaint.
To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
* 1775 , (Richard Brinsley Sheridan), (The Duenna) , Act 2, Scene 2
* B. Edwards
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
* Gilpin
To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to .
* Jonathan Swift
* Shakespeare
* Shakespeare
* Bible, Proverbs xxvii. 19
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
* Bible, Matt. xxii. 46
* Milton
* Macaulay
To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To render account to or for.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To atone; to be punished for.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
* Bible, Eccles. x. 19
As nouns the difference between an and answer
is that an is favor, grace while answer is a response or reply; something said]] or [[do|done in reaction to a statement or question.As a verb answer is
(ambitransitive) to make a reply or response to.an
English
(wikipedia an)Etymology 1
From (etyl) .Article
(head)Usage notes
* The article (an) is used before vowel sounds and (optionally) before silent aitches, and (a) before consonant sounds. * The various article senses of (a), all are senses of (term).Etymology 2
From (etyl) anConjunction
(English Conjunctions)- An it please you, my lord.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge , The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere (Original Version of 1797) 61-64:
- At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the Fog it came; And an it were a Christian Soul, We hail'd it in God's Name.
Etymology 3
.Etymology 4
From the (etyl) preposition an/on.Preposition
(English prepositions)- I was only going twenty miles an hour.
Usage notes
* This is the same as the word a'' in such contexts, modified because of preceding an unpronounced ''h''. ''The train was speeding along at a mile a minute.Synonyms
* perReferences
*Statistics
*answer
English
(wikipedia answer)Alternative forms
* (both obsolete)Etymology 1
From (etyl) (m), andsware, from (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)- Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face .
- There is no simple answer to corruption.
Derived terms
() * answerless * answer on a postcard * answerphone * answer printSee also
* askEtymology 2
From (etyl) answeren, andswaren, from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- There was no voice, nor any that answered .
- She answers him as if she knew his mind.
- to answer a charge or accusation
- Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
- 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.
- The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
- Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law.
- I wish she had answered her picture as well.
- The use of dunder in the making of rum answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.
- The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them.
- Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
- That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience.
- If this but answer to my just belief, / I'll remember you.
- As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
- No man was able to answer him a word.
- These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
- The reasoning was not and could not be answered .
- 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.
- I will send him to answer thee.
- And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
- Money answereth all things.