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Answer vs Idea - What's the difference?

answer | idea |

In lang=en terms the difference between answer and idea

is that answer is to file a document in response to a complaint while idea is a musical theme or melodic subject.

In obsolete terms the difference between answer and idea

is that answer is to be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay while idea is the form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

As nouns the difference between answer and idea

is that answer is a response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question while idea is an abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.

As a verb answer

is to make a reply or response to.

answer

English

(wikipedia answer)

Alternative forms

* (both obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), andsware, from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A response or reply; something said]] or [[do, done in reaction to a statement or question.
  • Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face .
  • A solution to a problem.
  • There is no simple answer to corruption.
  • (legal) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
  • Derived terms
    () * answerless * answer on a postcard * answerphone * answer print

    See also

    * ask

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) answeren, andswaren, from (etyl) .

    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.
  • *
  • , 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.
  • 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.
    Derived terms
    () * answerable * answer at * answer back * answerer * answer for * answer the call of nature * answer the helm * answer to

    See also

    * question

    idea

    English

    (wikipedia idea)

    Noun

  • (philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-10-19, volume=409, issue=8858, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Trouble at the lab , passage=The idea that the same experiments always get the same results, no matter who performs them, is one of the cornerstones of science’s claim to objective truth. If a systematic campaign of replication does not lead to the same results, then either the original research is flawed (as the replicators claim) or the replications are (as many of the original researchers on priming contend). Either way, something is awry.}}
  • (obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.
  • (obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.
  • *, II.6:
  • The remembrance whereof (which yet I beare deepely imprinted in my minde) representing me her visage and Idea so lively and so naturally, doth in some sort reconcile me unto her.
  • An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
  • More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=3 , passage=Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.}}
  • * 1952 , (Alfred Whitney Griswold)
  • Ideas won't go to jail.
  • A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an (l).
  • * , chapter=3
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=71, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= End of the peer show , passage=Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. Those that want to borrow are matched with those that want to lend.}}
  • A vague or fanciful (l); a feeling or hunch; an impression.
  • (music) A musical theme or melodic subject.
  • Synonyms

    * image

    Descendants

    * Japanese: (aidia)

    Derived terms

    * bad idea * good idea * idea'd * idea man * it seemed like a good idea at the time * idea monger * idea of reference * idea pot * life-idea * memory-idea * mother-idea * no idea * one-idea * received idea * sense-idea * simple idea * the very idea

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----