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Wonder vs Answer - What's the difference?

wonder | answer |

As nouns the difference between wonder and answer

is that wonder is one of the while answer is a response or reply; something said]] or [[do|done in reaction to a statement or question.

As a verb answer is

(ambitransitive) to make a reply or response to.

wonder

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something that causes amazement or awe; a marvel.
  • * , chapter=8
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls.}}
  • Something astonishing and seemingly inexplicable.
  • Someone very talented at something, a genius.
  • The sense or emotion which can be inspired by something curious or unknown; surprise; astonishment.
  • * (Plato), Theætetus (section 155d)
  • Socrates: I see, my dear Theaetetus, that Theodorus had a true insight into your nature when he said that you were a philosopher, for wonder' is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in ' wonder . He was not a bad genealogist who said that Iris (the messenger of heaven) is the child of Thaumas (wonder).
  • * Bible, (w) iii. 10
  • They were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
  • * 1781 , (Samuel Johnson), The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets
  • All wonder is the effect of novelty upon ignorance.
  • (UK, informal) A mental pondering, a thought.
  • * 1934 , Katharine Tynan, The house of dreams
  • Miss Paynter had a little wonder as to whether the man, as she called Mr. Lacy in her own mind, had ever been admitted to this room. She thought not.

    Derived terms

    * bewonder * boy wonder * girl wonder * gutless wonder * little wonder * nine day wonder * no wonder * one hit wonder * * small wonder * Wonder Woman * wonderberry * wonderboy * wonderbra * wonderchild * wonderdrug * wonderful * wonderland * wonderment * wondrous, wonderous * wonderworker * work wonders

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel.
  • * (Jonathan Swift), (w, Gulliver's Travels)
  • I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals.
  • * Johnson
  • We cease to wonder at what we understand.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.}}
  • To ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I wonder , in my soul, / What you would ask me, that I should deny.

    Derived terms

    * wonderer

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    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