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Answer vs Utter - What's the difference?

answer | utter |

In lang=en terms the difference between answer and utter

is that answer is to speak in defence against; to reply to in defence while utter is to make (a noise).

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between answer and utter

is that answer is (obsolete) to be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay while utter is (obsolete) outward.

As verbs the difference between answer and utter

is that answer is (ambitransitive) to make a reply or response to while utter is to say.

As a noun answer

is a response or reply; something said]] or [[do|done in reaction to a statement or question.

As an adjective utter is

.

As an adverb utter is

(label) further out; further away, outside.

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

    Statistics

    * English reporting verbs 1000 English basic words

    utter

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) ; compare (outer).

    Adjective

    (-)
  • * Chapman
    • By him a shirt and utter mantle laid.
  • * Spenser
    • As doth an hidden moth / The inner garment fret, not th' utter touch.
  • * Milton
    • Through utter and through middle darkness borne.
  • (obsolete) Outward.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Matthew XXIII:
    • Wo be to you scrybes and pharises ypocrites, for ye make clene the utter side off the cuppe, and off the platter: but within they are full of brybery and excesse.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.10:
    • So forth without impediment I past, / Till to the Bridges utter gate I came .
  • Absolute, unconditional, total, complete.
    • utter''' ruin; '''utter darkness
  • * Atterbury
    • They are utter strangers to all those anxious thoughts which disquiet mankind.
  • :* {{quote-book
    • , year=1920 , year_published=2008 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=Edgar Rice Burroughs , title=Thuvia, Maiden of Mars , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage=His eyes could not penetrate the darkness even to the distinguishing of his hand before his face, while the banths, he knew, could see quite well, though absence of light were utter . }}
    Synonyms
    * see also
    Derived terms
    * utterly * utterness * uttermost

    Etymology 2

    Partly from (out) (adverb/verb), partly from (etyl) uteren.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To say
    • Don't you utter another word!
  • To use the voice
    • Sally uttered a sigh of relief.
    The dog uttered a growling bark.
  • To make speech sounds which may or may not have an actual language involved
    • Sally is uttering some fairly strange things in her illness.
  • *
  • To make (a noise)
    • Sally's car uttered a hideous shriek when she applied the brakes.
  • (legal) To put counterfeit money, etc. , into circulation
    • Derived terms
    * utterance * utterer * utterless * utterable

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) .

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (label) Further out; further away, outside.
  • *, Bk.VII, Ch.v:
  • *:So whan he com nyghe to hir, she bade hym ryde uttir —‘for thou smellyst all of the kychyn.’
    • ----