Verb

(en verb)

(ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to.

* Bible, 1 Kings xviii. 26

There was no voice, nor any that answered .

* Shakespeare

She answers him as if she knew his mind.

*

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To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.

to answer a charge or accusation

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

Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.

To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.

* Alexander Ellis

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.

* 1903 , , (The Way of All Flesh) , Ch. 41

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.

To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.

The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.

* Shakespeare

Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law.

(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

I wish she had answered her picture as well.

* B. Edwards

The use of dunder in the making of rum answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.

To be opposite, or to act in opposition.

* Gilpin

The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them.

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

Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.

* Shakespeare

That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience.

* Shakespeare

If this but answer to my just belief, / I'll remember you.

* Bible, Proverbs xxvii. 19

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.

* Bible, Matt. xxii. 46

No man was able to answer him a word.

* Milton

These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.

* Macaulay

The reasoning was not and could not be answered .

To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.

He answered my claim upon him.

The servant answered the bell.

* Shakespeare

This proud king studies day and night / To answer all the debts he owes unto you.

(obsolete) To render account to or for.

* Shakespeare

I will send him to answer thee.

(obsolete) To atone; to be punished for.

* Shakespeare

And grievously hath Caesar answered it.

(obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

* Bible, Eccles. x. 19

Money answereth all things.