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Offer vs Answer - What's the difference?

offer | answer |

As nouns the difference between offer and answer

is that offer is a proposal that has been made or offer can be (used in combinations from phrasal verbs) agent noun of off while answer is a response or reply; something said]] or [[do|done in reaction to a statement or question.

As verbs the difference between offer and answer

is that offer is (lb) to present (something) to god as a gesture of worship, or for a sacrifice while answer is (ambitransitive) to make a reply or response to.

offer

English

(wikipedia offer)

Alternative forms

* offre (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) offer, from (etyl) . See verb below.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A proposal that has been made.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}
  • Something put forth, bid, proffered or tendered.
  • (label) An invitation to enter into a binding contract communicated to another party which contains terms sufficiently definite to create an enforceable contract if the other party accepts the invitation.
  • Derived terms
    * make an offer

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) offren, offrien, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To present (something) to God as a gesture of worship, or for a sacrifice.
  • *Bible, (w) xxix. 36
  • *:Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement.
  • (lb) To place (something) in a position where it can be added to an existing mechanical assembly.
  • *2009 , Roger Williams, Triumph Tr2, 3, 3a, 4 & 4a
  • *:The next stage is to remove and replace the top part of the right side lip, and offer the lid to the car to ensure all the shapes and gaps are okay.
  • (lb) To propose or express one's willingness (to do something).
  • :
  • (lb) To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest.
  • :
  • (lb) To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
  • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic
  • (lb) To bid, as a price, reward, or wages.
  • :
  • (lb) To happen, to present itself.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:The occasion offers , and the youth complies.
  • *1749 , (John Cleland), (w) , Penguin 1985, p.64:
  • *:The opportunity, however, did not offer till next morning, for Phoebe did not come to bed till long after I was gone to sleep.
  • (lb) To make an attempt; used with at .
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:I will not offer at that I cannot master.
  • *(w, Roger L'Estrange) (1616-1704)
  • *:He would be offering at the shepherd's voice.
  • *(Jonathan Swift) (1667–1745)
  • *:without offering at any other remedy
  • (lb) To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way; to threaten.
  • :
  • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to -infinitive. See

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (used in combinations from phrasal verbs) agent noun of off
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=2003 , author=James-Jason Gantt , title=Losing Summer , chapter= citation , isbn=t0595297498 9780595297498 , page=146 , passage=Once you finally discover yourself a dismember-er, a de-limber, a fucking head-cutter-offer , the most simple of tasks — enjoying a long walk outside, seeing a movie, conversing with a stranger in the library — all become prized and over-inflated moments of elation.}}

    Statistics

    *

    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