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Answer vs Why - What's the difference?

answer | why |

As nouns the difference between answer and why

is that answer is a response or reply; something said]] or [[do|done in reaction to a statement or question while why is reason or why can be (uk|dialect) a young heifer.

As a verb answer

is (ambitransitive) to make a reply or response to.

As an adverb why is

for what cause, reason, or purpose.

As an interjection why is

an exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience "well, i'll tell you".

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

    why

    English

    (wikipedia why)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) . See (l).

    Adverb

    (-)
  • For what cause, reason, or purpose.
  • #
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why did you do that?
  • I don’t know why he did that
  • Tell me why the moon changes phase.
  • #
  • Why spend money on something you already get for free?
  • Why not tell him how you feel?
  • #
  • Why''' him? '''Why not someone taller?
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}
    Synonyms
    * how come, wherefore

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • reason
  • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how .
    Synonyms
    * wherefore

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience. "Well, I'll tell you...".
  • * Daniel Defoe
  • Why , child, I tell thee if I was thy mother I would not disown thee; don't you see I am as kind to you as if I was your mother?”
    Derived terms
    * whyever * why in God's name * why not * why on Earth * whys and wherefores * why the Devil * why the dickens * why the fuck

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (whies)
  • (UK, dialect) A young heifer.
  • (Grose)

    Statistics

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