v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Answered p. pr. & vb. n. Answering. ] [ OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr. andswaru, n., answer. See Answer, n. ] 1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to. [ 1913 Webster ]

She answers him as if she knew his mind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . .
And him thus answered soon his bold compeer. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute. [ 1913 Webster ]

No man was able to answer him a word. Matt. xxii. 46. [ 1913 Webster ]

These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The reasoning was not and could not be answered. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be or act in return or response to. Hence: (a) To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon him; the servant answered the bell. [ 1913 Webster ]

This proud king . . . studies day and night
To answer all the debts he owes unto you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To render account to or for. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will . . . send him to answer thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To atone; to be punished for. [ 1913 Webster ]

And grievously hath Cæzar answered it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To be opposite to; to face. [ 1913 Webster ]

The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. Gilpin. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Money answereth all things. Eccles. x. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

(f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. √177, 196. See Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-. ] 1. A reply to a charge; a defense. [ 1913 Webster ]

At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

I called him, but he gave me no answer. Cant. v. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great the slaughter is
Here made by the Roman; great the answer be
Britons must take. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Reply; rejoinder; response. See Reply. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be or act in return. Hence: (a) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do the strings answer to thy noble hand? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To be opposite, or to act in opposition. (c) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer. (d) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this but answer to my just belief,
I 'll remember you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Prov. xxvii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible; as, an agent is answerable to his principal; to be answerable for a debt, or for damages. [ 1913 Webster ]

Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is answerable only to God? Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The argument, though subtle, is yet answerable. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable. [ 1913 Webster ]

What wit and policy of man is answerable to their discreet and orderly course? Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

This revelation . . . was answerable to that of the apostle to the Thessalonians. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Proportionate; commensurate; suitable; as, an achievement answerable to the preparation for it. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Equal; equivalent; adequate. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Had the valor of his soldiers been answerable, he had reached that year, as was thought, the utmost bounds of Britain. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being answerable, liable, responsible, or correspondent. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an answerable manner; in due proportion or correspondence; suitably. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who answers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no answer, or impossible to be answered. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]