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单词 answer
释义

answern.

Brit. /ˈɑːnsə/, /ˈansə/, U.S. /ˈænsər/
Forms: early Old English andswore (Kentish), Old English andsuaru (rare), Old English andsweru (rare), Old English andswaru, Old English andsworu (rare), Old English answaru (rare), Old English antswaru (rare), Old English ondsuare (Northumbrian), Old English ondsuere (Northumbrian), Old English ondsuęre (Northumbrian, accusative), Old English ondswaru, Old English ondsuære (Northumbrian), Old English ondswore (chiefly Anglian), Old English ondsuearum (Northumbrian, dative plural), late Old English antsweare (Kentish), late Old English–early Middle English andswære, early Middle English ændswere, early Middle English ænsware, early Middle English andsware, early Middle English andsweore, early Middle English andswere, early Middle English andswyre, early Middle English andware (probably transmission error), early Middle English anndswere ( Ormulum), early Middle English enswere, early Middle English ondsware, early Middle English ondsweare, early Middle English ondswere, early Middle English onsuare, Middle English ansfor, Middle English anshere (Norfolk), Middle English ansquar (north-west midlands), Middle English ansquare (north-west midlands), Middle English ansquer, Middle English ansqwere, Middle English ansswer, Middle English ansswere, Middle English ansuar, Middle English ansuare, Middle English ansvere, Middle English answar, Middle English answeire, Middle English answher, Middle English answhere, Middle English answore, Middle English hanswer, Middle English onsar (north-west midlands), Middle English onsquare (northern), Middle English onsquer, Middle English onsuar, Middle English onsuer, Middle English onsuere, Middle English onswar, Middle English onsware, Middle English onswer, Middle English onswere, Middle English unsquar, Middle English vnsuar, Middle English vnsuare, Middle English vnsuer, Middle English vnsuere, Middle English vnswar, Middle English vnsware, Middle English vnswer, Middle English vnswere, Middle English 1600s ansquere, Middle English 1600s ansur, Middle English 1600s–1700s answare, Middle English (in a late copy)–1500s aunsware, Middle English–1500s awnswer, Middle English–1500s awnswere, Middle English–1500s unswer, Middle English–1600s ansuer, Middle English–1600s ansuere, Middle English–1600s answere, Middle English–1600s aunswer, Middle English–1600s aunswere, Middle English– answer, 1500s ansower, 1500s aunswar, 1500s nonswarre, 1500s–1600s answeare, 1500s–1600s unswere, 1500s–1700s aunsweare, 1600s answear, 1600s answeere, 1600s awnsweare, 1600s–1700s aunswear; Scottish pre-1700 andsur, pre-1700 ansor, pre-1700 ansour, pre-1700 ansowr, pre-1700 ansuar, pre-1700 ansuare, pre-1700 ansueir, pre-1700 ansuer, pre-1700 ansuere, pre-1700 ansueyr, pre-1700 ansur, pre-1700 ansure, pre-1700 answar, pre-1700 answare, pre-1700 answeir, pre-1700 answer, pre-1700 answere, pre-1700 aunswer, pre-1700 aunswere, pre-1700 awnsuere, pre-1700 awnswer, pre-1700 awnswere.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian ondser , onser responsibility, accountability, Old Saxon andswar answer, Old Icelandic andsvar , annsvar answer, reply, decision, Old Swedish andsvar , antsvar , ansvar answer, reply, responsibility, accountability (Swedish ansvar ), Old Danish andsvar , ansvar responsibility, accountability (Danish ansvar ) < the Germanic base of and- prefix + the Germanic base of swear v. Semantic development. For the more usual word for ‘answer’ in the early Germanic languages see andwurde v. and the nouns and verbs cited at that entry. The present word probably originally denoted a solemn affirmation made to rebut a charge, and was later generalized in sense to denote any answer or reply. With the sense development shown by the noun and by the corresponding verb answer v. compare the similar developments shown by classical Latin respondēre respond v. and (less closely parallel) ancient Greek ἀποκρίνεσθαι to answer charges, defend oneself, also to answer, reply to ( < ἀπο- apo- prefix + κρίνειν to judge, condemn). Form history. In Old English manuscripts the prefix is often abbreviated by the Tironian note so that it is not always clear what form of the word is intended (compare quot. OE1 at sense 1a and discussion at and conj.1, adv., and n.1). The listed Old English forms may in some instances depend on editorial decisions on how to expand the Tironian note. The form nonswarre shows metanalysis (see N n.).
Esp. in early use, used with a verb such as give or make as an approximate equivalent of answer v. in various senses (now somewhat archaic).
I. A verbal or other response to a question, remark, communication, etc.
* Neutral senses.
1.
a. A spoken or written reply, or some other response, to a question.See also the answer is a lemon at lemon n.1 1c, ask a silly question and you get a silly answer at silly adj., n., and adv. Phrases 4, a civil question deserves a civil answer at question n. Phrases 1e, dusty answer at dusty adj. 4d, not to take no for an answer at no adv.2 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response
answerOE
response?a1400
replication1414
recorda1450
responsal?a1475
responsion?a1475
repliquec1475
responsivec1487
replyal1548
replica?1552
reply1560
avoure1596
interlocution1597
respond1600
responsum1610
returna1616
respondency1617
reasona1635
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: John xix. 9 Iesus autem responsum non dedit ei : se hælend uutedlice ondsuare [OE Rushw. ondswora, OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus Cambr. &sware] ne salde him.
OE Ælfric Interrogationes Sigewulfi in Genesin (Corpus Cambr. 162) Introd., in Anglia (1884) 7 2 Þa cwæð Albinus.., þæt he wolde his axunga ealle gegaderian, & him andsware sendan mid heora swutelungean.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16067 Sannte Peterr ȝaff himm þuss. Anndswere onn ȝæn & seȝȝde [etc.].
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 8 Him þuncheð wunder..of swich ondswere.
c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 121 Heȝ ine þe temple he [sc. Jesus] seat wel bald, And..to alle clerkes þat þer were He ȝaf answere and tale.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 21455 Þe messagers him gaf ansquare.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 60 Quhen thai hard nane mak ansuar, Thai brak the dur.
1577 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Three Bookes ii. f. 38 Giuyng theim continually doubtfull aunsweres.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. ii. 38 I will bee a foole in question, hoping to bee the wiser by your answer . View more context for this quotation
a1660 H. Hammond Wks. (1684) II. i. 137 (R.) Why was not John who was a virgin chosen, or preferred before the rest?..his answer is, because Peter was the Elder, the deference being given to his age.
1700 C. Cibber Tragical Hist. King Richard III i. 4 When I ask'd What News? His Answer was a deep faught Sigh.
1714 Spectator No. 625. ⁋1 The following Letter of Queries, with his Answers to each Question.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 903 A captious question, sir, and yours is one, Deserves an answer similar, or none.
1814 Panoplist Jan. 8/1 Would he not have declared it, had he not in fact been the Son of God... Especially so, when he did explain, and define the sense of the question put to him by Pilate, whether he was the King of the Jews, before he gave answer.
1850 T. T. Lynch Memorials Theophilus Trinal 5 To this question there is no answer.
1891 F. C. S. Schiller Riddles of Sphinx 403 The pluralistic answer given to the ultimate question of ontology.
1911 C. Klein Maggie Pepper xxiii. 296 When, finally, she made answer, it was with more than a hint of ambiguousness.
1950 P. Ramsey Basic Christian Ethics (1993) iii. 92 It may be supposed that the priest and the Levite were hurrying along that day to a conference called to give authoritative answer to the question, ‘Who is my neighbor?’
2007 N. Rosen How to live Off-grid vii. 285 What about low-impact dwelling? I asked. I was aware that Robin would not have the latest thinking at his fingertips, but his answer was useful.
b. A reply or response to an address, remark, request, or any expression of desire or opinion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > in particular circumstances
answereOE
rescript1531
counterblast1567
responsum1610
return1640
responsum1857
reader-response1923
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xl. 297 Sua ðæt ahrerede mod, ðonne hit ongiet ðæt him mon birgð mid ðære gesceadlican andsuare [L. responsorum ratione], hit bið getæsed on ðæt ingeðonc.
OE Will of Atheling Æðelstan (Sawyer 1503) in D. Whitelock Anglo-Saxon Wills (1930) 60 Nu þancige Ic minon fæder mid ealre eadmodnesse on godes ælmihtiges naman þære andsware [i.e. the granting of permission] þe he me sende.
OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Kings (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1881) I. 406 Þa cyddon ða cnihtas þam cynincge þæt, and he cwæð to andsware, þæt hit wæs ær swa gewitegod.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12016 Alls iff þe laferrd ȝæfe þuss Anndswere onn ȝæn þe deofell.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1967 Þe aldre seide þat al þis lond he wolde halden on is aȝere hond; þe ȝengere him ȝef swuh enswere, ‘Ær ich þe slæ mid mine spere.’
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xv. 1 A nesshe answere breketh wrathe.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 106 So plesaunt of ansuere vnto her husbonde.
1562 in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 289 And then he made vs this answer.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 72 Had you beene as wise as bold..Your aunswere had not beene inscrold. View more context for this quotation
1721–6 W. Byrd II in K. Berland et al. Commonplace Bk. (2001) 119 A formal Fellow, who usd to pronounce his words very distinctly, came to inquire for a Gent whos name was Owen. When the Servant came to the door O:N said this distinct Fop , the Servant made answer very humourously, N:O.
1773 Literary Reg. 5 88/2 Whatever you do, never condescend to give an answer to any remark you may hear made by the company, though they may appear genteel in their dress.
1789 Jrnl. Senate U.S. (1st Sess.) 29 The Committee appointed to prepare an answer to the President's Speech, delivered to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.
1807 R. Southey Lett. from Eng. I. viii. 90 A transparency..which represented a loaf of bread saying to a pot of porter, I am coming down; to which the porter-pot made answer, So am I.
1816 J. Pickering Vocab. U.S. Answer, this term is always used by us to signify the Reply of the Senate or House of Representatives to the Speech of the President (or of the Governor of a state) at the opening of a session of the Legislature.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. iv. 74 The answer was given by a volley of musketry.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 53 He flung a wrathful answer back.
1870 A. Lisle Self & Self-sacrifice (new ed.) xlv. 275 ‘This is a good advertisement for her.’ Oscar made no answer.
1919 C. L. Carlsen Son of Pio vi. 115 She had sobbed, and fled, and had refused an answer to a single entreaty with which he had pursued her.
1969 Boys' Life Feb. 59/3 Brion Stewart..writes, ‘I wonder if you could print an article on plate blocks...’ Here is an answer to your request.
2010 H. D. Miller Theorizing Black Theatre ii. 74 Its [sc. the Krigwa Players Little Negro Theatre's] establishment seemed an answer to Lewis' 1925 suggestion that educated Negroes stop ‘crying for white folks to give them a chance on the “legitimate” stage’.
c. A reply to an implied question; a decision on a point at issue.Not always clearly distinguishable from other uses of sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > to a question > that is implied
answerOE
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxv. 304 Gehyre se mann þe ðis smeað, andsware his smeagunge.
OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens Old Eng. Glosses of MS Brussels, Royal Libr. 1650 (1974) 308 Consulta : responsa.., andswara uel rædas.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4061 Þei ech of vs sete al day þe beste red to rede, Betere ansuere we ne ssolde vinde.
c1390 Gregorius (Vernon) (1914) 108 To witen onswere and resoun ȝif a scholden þe Duyk a bide.
1466 Rec. Mercers in W. Blades Biogr. & Typogr. W. Caxton (1877) 151 As for yor desire of aunsware of the lordes intent.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 135 Is not this the day, That Hermia should giue answer of her choyce? View more context for this quotation
1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. iii. xxxi. 255 I know not what Answer to make to this Problem of yours.
1722 E. Ward Norwich Lady 7 The Knight..Enjoin'd his Wife to send the Frier An Answer to his Heart's desire.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in Poems (new ed.) II. 136 There must be answer to his doubt.
1875 H. J. S. Maine Lect. Early Hist. Inst. ii. 42 The Responsa Prudentum, the accumulated answers (or, as the Brehon phrase is, the judgments) of many successive generations of famous Roman lawyers.
2004 S. Hall Electric Michelangelo 72 You've not give [sic] me an answer to my offer yet. Two pints please, Paddy, best make it ale for junior.
d. A response, pronouncement, or sign given by God or a god, esp. as made to or through a prophet, oracle, or other intermediary. Also: the action of God or a god making such a response.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > oracular
answerOE
responsea1522
oracle1657
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) ix. 250 Þa com him andswaru fram þam halgan gaste, þæt he ne sceolde deaðes onbyrian ær þan þe he Crist gesawe.
OE Nativity of Virgin (Hatton) in B. Assmann Angelsächsische Homilien u. Heiligenleben (1889) 130 Nu þonne uton secan þa andsware to gode ure axunge, þæt god us gecyðe, hwilcum wære we hi befæstan sculon to healdenne.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 2673 Egipte folc..askeden here godes red; And hem seiden wið answeren Ðat on ebru cude hem wel weren.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) i. l. 72 So whanne this Calkas knew by Calkulynge And ek by answere of this Appollo That Grekes sholden swych a peple brynge [etc.].
a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 61v Sors, hap, chaunce, lot, or wycchecrafte, or answere from gode.
c1450 J. Metham Palmistry (Garrett) in Wks. (1916) 84 (MED) Thales Mylesyes..be the ansqwere off god Appollo, fyrst dyd wryte the syens off cyromancy in the langage of Parce.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 85 Aunsware to haue Of mowmenttes..þurghe might of þe fynd.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xlix. 104 The answere of God was a resolute denyall of fauour to them for whome supplication was made.
1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man ii. 71 The Temple fell downe, and verified the answere of the Oracle.
1608 T. Heywood Rape of Lucrece sig. C4v Our superstitions ended, sacred Priest, Since we haue had free answer from the Gods.
a1679 M. Poole Annot. Holy Bible (1683) I. (Num. xi. 24) sig. Hhiiiiv/2 [Moses went] out of the tabernacle, into which he entred to receive Gods answers from the Mercy-Seat.
1705 J. Beaumont Hist. Treat. Spirits xii. 372 Oracles were set up, all which gave answers..and they were given either by the Daemon himself, or by Pythonists.
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture II. xiv. 122 Declaring the will and answers of the gods..in well-knit harangues.
1927 C. C. Josey Psychol. of Relig. xii. 295 A..method of obtaining answers from the gods was to give up..all control over one's faculties, thus leaving the way open for some spirit to take charge and use them to express its will.
2010 J. S. Bell Bible Answer Bk. iv. 53 The priest would..‘read’ how the stones fell, to determine a yes or no answer from God.
2. A reply to a question in a lesson or an examination or test or (outside a learning environment) in a quiz, etc.; a solution to a verbal puzzle or clue, or to a mathematical problem. More generally: a solution to a particular problem or difficulty.See also question and answer n., cross-questions and crooked answers at cross-question n. c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > solution, explanation > instance of
answerOE
solutionc1384
resolutiona1542
sol1588
soil1609
salvo1660
éclaircissement1673
fix1882
OE Riddle 55 15 Nu me þisses gieddes ondsware ywe, se hine on mede wordum secgan hu se wudu hatte.
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens ii. sig. I.ii Demaunde. Wherof serueth a great veyne that commeth out of the holownes of the lyuer called Portanaria? Answere. It is bycause that all the succosyte that chyllus draweth by his braunches it transmytteth and dystrybuteth by all the lyuer.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Tabil following sig. *.viii In the end is proponit twa questiouns. The first to quhem suld we pray? Answeir. We suld pray to God only as giffar of all grace and gudnes.
1579 H. Heron Kayes of Counsaile vi. 86 Therfore he gaue hir this riddle for an answere before hir husbands face [etc.].
1592 R. Field (title) Firste Booke of Arithmeticke; sheweing the ingenius inventions and figurative operations by whiche to calculate the true Solution or Answers to Arithmeticall Questions.
a1635 R. Sibbes Evangelicall Sacrifices (1640) 181 Now from this..there must be an answer in us, an engagement on our part.
1686 I. Speidel (title) An Arithmetical Extraction; or, a Collection of 800 Questions with their Answers.
1736 Introd. Doctr. Fluxions 46 Did ever any fool imagine that a reasonable answer could be given to this question, How many nothings will fill a quart.
1742 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Answer,..the Solution of a Mathematical Question, an Ænigma, &c.
1775 Lady's Mag. Feb. 2 A soliloquy, and answer to a riddle, in last year's supplement, signed Silvius, by Herman Boaaz.
1817 Encycl. Londinensis XV. 80/1 The quotient, 1, is not the answer, for it must be on the 1d side.
1881 L. Hensley (title) The Scholar's Arithmetic, with Answers to the Examples.
1929 Mech. Engin. Nov. 865/1 The rocket plane with its possibility of moving at speeds..would seem to be the answer to the problem of quick transportation.
1930 Our Army Feb. 43/2 If the instructor can find no fault with your answers to an examination or with your solution of a tactical problem, you are said to ‘max’ the examination.
1942 N. Balchin Darkness falls from Air ix. 155 They've had at least three absolutely copper-bottomed brass-riveted stories about graft in the Ministry. I've seen the evidence, and there just isn't an answer.
1965 Rotarian Feb. 58/1 Answer to Rotary in Crosswords... 1 across Service [etc.].
1995 Northern Aquaculture July 5/4 The answer to this problem may be sterilizing all the fish at the egg stage through a method perfected at ASF called triploiding.
2003 Time Out N.Y. 11 Sept. 188/2 Students reported using..text messaging to send answers to each other during exams and calculators to store answers for use during tests.
3. A (usually written) reply to a letter, invitation, advertisement, or other communication requiring acknowledgement.
ΚΠ
1400 Ld. Grey of Ruthin Let. June in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 4 An other lettre that I have send to hym agayn of an Answare.
1481 R. Cely Let. 22 Nov. in Cely Lett. (1975) 124 Syr, I haue whryttyn to yow dyuarys lettyrs, byt I haue of them none ansfor.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1537) Table The aunswere to the emperours letter sente by Boemia.
1701 T. Mott Let. 3 June in J. Floyer Anc. Ψυχρολουσια Revived (1706) ii. 53 Your's of the 24th of May I received, but it had the misfortune to come by the Lame Post, or else you had sooner received an Answer.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 227 His letter to me does not deserve an answer.
1826 Mirror of Lit. 9 Dec. 377/1 I believe, madam,..we had the pleasure of receiving an answer to our advertisement for board and lodging, from you.
1873 Harper's Mag. Dec. 113/1 That there might be no occasion for an answer, the invitation was only delivered an hour before the time appointed for dinner.
1945 E. Waugh Brideshead Revisited (1960) 232 We cabled the last address we had, but there was no answer.
1997 J. Seabrook Deeper ii. 49 I asked him whether he thought it would be unhip to send Gates another e-mail before I had received an answer to the previous one.
2010 J. DeVillers & J. Roy Take Two xiii. 127 I could hear Emma's phone buzz. I saw her pick it up and type back an answer.
†4. A set phrase or sentence spoken or sung by a congregation or choir in response to a versicle; = responsory n. 1b. Obsolete.In quot. 1440: the singing of two choirs taking alternate parts.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > parts of service > response > [noun]
answer1440
R1497
responda1555
response1578
interlocution1597
responsory1621
responsora1649
antiphona1652
responsala1652
cathisma1850
responsor1944
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 12 Answere, responsum, responsio, antiphona.
1539 J. Hilsey Man. Prayers sig. G.iiv The versycle. ¶ Holy mother of god, and vyrgyn perpetuall. ¶ The answere. ¶ Praye thou for vs to our Lorde god celestiall.
1595 J. Stradling in tr. J. Lipsius Two Bks. Constancie xxvii 127 In the Church were 3. partes of singing vsed... Antiphonia, that is, a response or answere.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues sig. E iv/1 Antiphones, the reciprocall voyces, answeres, or chaunting of two companies that sing by turnes, as in a Quier.
1647 Psalter of David Pref. sig. A5 It was the generall use of Christendome, to say the Psalmes Antiphonatim, by way of verse and answer, saith Suidas.
1707 Glossographia Anglicana Nova Antiphon, the Answer made by one Choir to another, when a Psalm or Anthem is sung between two.
1799 A. F. C. Kollmann Ess. Pract. Musical Composition v 25 Fugues had their rise, in the Antiphones of the antient Church, where a priest or choir sung a short sentence, and the congregation or another choir sung an answer to it.
1841 J. Jebb Lect. Cathedral Serv. 6/1 The Choir making an answer to the enunciation of the Minister, or else one portion of the Choir responding to the other portion.
1879 Marquis of Bute tr. Rom. Breviary II. 714/1 First Responsory. Judas said unto Simon his brother: Choose thee out men, and go, and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee:... Answer. As the Will is in heaven, so let it be.
** Senses involving some degree of opposition, challenge, or assertiveness.
5. A reply to an objection rebutting its force; a reply in writing or debate, setting out arguments opposed to those previously advanced.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > in defence
answerOE
ward-word1599
OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) ii. 18 Illic tenere patientiam non debemus sed..os blasphemum ueritatis responsione dampnare : þar healdan geþyld we na scylan ac..muð wodne soðfæstnysse andsware genyþerian.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. 240 (table of contents) Hu se Wisdom hine eft rete & rihte mid his andsworum.
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 470 Þos hule..þoȝte hu he miȝte Ansvere [a1300 Jesus Oxf. onswere] uinde best mid riȝte.
a1325 St. Mary Magdalen (Corpus Cambr.) 74 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S.-Eng. Legendary (1956) 305 He[o] gan to speke aȝen hore lawe so uair reson and god Þat non ne couþe hure ȝiue answere ac as gidi echmon stod.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 98 Sufficient aunswere can be mad to al arguyng..bi skilis in lawe of kinde.
1534 T. More (title) The answere to the fyrst parte of the poysened booke whych a namelesse heretyke hath named The souper of the lorde.
1578 T. Tymme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Genesis 214 If any man object..the aunswere is easy to be made.
1639 J. Woodall Surgeons Mate (rev. ed.) Pref. 13 A loving answer to all such as shall hereafter finde fault with his book.
1692 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. vi. 25 We are now enabled to give answers to some bold Queries and Objections of Atheists.
1722 B. Franklin Let. in New Eng. Courant 25 June P.S. I shall make no other Answer to Hypercarpus's Criticism on my last letter than this, [etc.].
1798 J. Wolcot Tales of Hoy in Wks. (1812) IV. 425 An answer is inserted, he answers the answer with blacker inventions.
1846 L. Lockhart (title) An answer to the protest of the Free Church.
1896 A. D. White Hist. Warfare Sci. with Theol. I. i. 75 The elaborate answer to Darwin's book by the eminent French Catholic physician, Dr. Constantin James.
1936 A. Huxley What are you going to do about It? 4 It has seemed best to state the pacifist case in terms of a series of answers to common antipacifist objections.
2002 T. Wein Brit. Identities, Heroic Nationalisms, & Gothic Novel ii. ii. 59 He began an answer to a pamphlet against Conway on 29 May.
6.
a. A reply made to a charge, in which the accused seeks to clear himself or herself; a defence against an accusation or petition, a rebutting statement.In legal contexts used (as in general use) to refer to a reply made to a charge or other assertion made in the course of civil or criminal proceedings, and also (esp. formerly) as the technical description of certain documents.foreign answer: see foreign adj. 1c. insufficient answer: see insufficient adj. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > in defence > in response to a charge
answerOE
replication1587
back-racket1608
countercharge1706
OE Crist I 184 Hu mæg ic [sc. the Virgin Mary] ladigan laþan spræce, oþþe ondsware ænige findan wraþum towiþere?
lOE Canterbury Psalter: Canticles xv. 40 Ad cuius adventum omnes homines resurgere habent..et reddituri sunt de factis propriis rationem : & to whæs tocuman alle menn sculen arisan..& geouan antsweare off heore ahgen wercan mid sceadwisnesse.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 443 By þat answere Alisaundre abated his wreþe, and put of þe sentence and þe dome.
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 127 Let seo what onswere [c1400 Simeon vnswere] constou make, Wher weore þou kynde in eny þing?
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 5779 (MED) Men byhoves alswa acount yhelde Of þair saules..Of whilk þai sal þan [sc. at Doomsday] answer gyf.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 16 Ded men xul rysyn..And ffast to here ansuere þei xul hem dyth.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie A 380 The answere of the defendant. Intentionis depulsio.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Tim. iv. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) ii. i. 215 Call these foule Offendors to their Answeres . View more context for this quotation
1688 W. Brown (title) The clerk's tutor in Chancery, giving true directions..how to draw affidavits, petitions..bills, answers.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. xiv. 227 The courts of equity..will grant an injunction or order to stay waste, until the defendant shall have put in his answer.
1794 F. W. Sanders J. T. Atkins's Rep. Cases Chancery (ed. 3) I. 12/1 The defendant in his answer says, that he had made frequent applications within the time limited for the completion of his purchase to the plaintiff.
1809 T. E. Tomlins Jacob's Law-dict. at Chancery An answer generally controverts the facts stated in the bill, or some of them.
1874 J. Parker Paraclete i. xiii. 201 To the charge that Christianity takes a low view of human nature, the cross of Christ is the answer of God.
1902 Atlantic Reporter 50 607/2 Where defendant's responsive answer is founded on hearsay, his answer is not evidence for him.
1974 Times 15 Jan. 14/6 I claim to have a complete answer to the charge, so laugh that off, Sir Peter.
1990 D. R. Pinello in R. Wood Remedial Law App. 106 An assistant attorney general of Rhode Island served an answer on behalf of all defendants.
2007 R. Duncan Judge's Guide to Divorce v. 81 Your spouse is likely to ignore and fail to file an answer to the divorce papers you serve on him or her.
†b. without answer: without the right or opportunity to defend oneself in court. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Vitell.) (1966) l. 427 Hit nis no riȝht iugem[ent] Wiþoute onsuere.
c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 387 To dampne a man with-oute answere [a1450 Tanner aunswer, c1500 Selden ansuere] or word.
c1450 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Complaint Black Knight (Fairf.) l. 275 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 394 Falsly accused..Without vnsuer [emended in ed. to ansuer], while he was absent, He damned was.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 1281 The Duke..came neuer to any triall, but was attainted by Parliament without aunswere.
1613 in E. Coke 4th Pt. Inst. Laws of Eng. (1644) i. 38 No man ought to be condemned without answer.
1700 R. Brady Contin. Compl. Hist. Eng. 424 [The king] sent the Duke to Calais, to be imprisoned..; and without Answer, or lawful Process, caused him to be..cruelly murdered.
1898 Rep. Supreme Court Calif. 120 35 The court has no authority to..direct the rendition of judgement against him without answer.., thereby depriving him of his right to make a defense to the action.
1908 Amer. Digest 1897–1906 (Decennial ed.) II. 480/2 The facts stated in the petition to vacate a judgement shall be deemed denied without answer.
7.
a. A reply to a challenge, summons, demand, etc.See also to charge to an answer at charge v. 14b.
ΚΠ
OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) v. 20 Ðeos sylfe hyrsumnes bið Gode antfenge.., gif þæt gebodene bið gefremed..butan ceorunge and butan [n]ellendes andsware [L. responso nolentis].
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xii.126 Soþlice þæs mynstres þeaw wæs, þæt swa oft swa þa broðra ut eodon to ænigre andsware [L. ad responsum aliquod], þæt hi nænigra þinga ne namon ne ne þigdon mete.
1478 Let. 17 Aug. in Cely Lett. (1975) 27 And we pray you of your goodly answher wythin xxiiij owrse.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries xvii. f. ccliiij At the nexte assemblie at Baden..they will make hym an aunswer to hys former demaundes.
1611 Bible (King James) Job xix. 16 I called my seruant, and he gaue me no answere . View more context for this quotation
1644 Jrnl. House of Lords 21 Aug. VI. 683/1 The Answer returned was: That this House will send an Answer to the Order for taking of Horses for Sir Wm. Waller, by Messengers of their own.
1697 J. Vanbrugh Æsop: 2nd Pt. (ed. 2) 4 I sent him a Challenge; and what do you think his Answer was—he sent me Word I was a Scoundrel Son of a Whore.
1720 D. Neal Hist. New-Eng. I. iii. 101 The Captain at the Head of his Men challeng'd their Sachem to single Combat, but receiv'd no Answer.
1768 W. Guthrie Gen. Hist. Scotl. VIII. 92 He sent the lord Herries..to demand an assurance of his personal safety, if he should comply with the order sent him. The answer, after mature deliberation, was as follows: [etc.].
1822 C. Mills Hist. Crusades (ed. 3) II. ii. 58 But Conrad disdained an answer to the royal summons.
1875 W. H. Ainsworth Goldsmith's Wife III. iv. iii. 28 I doubt not I shall receive from King Louis a satisfactory answer to my peremptory demand that your marriage with the Dauphin be forthwith solemnised.
1917 Compl. United States Infantry Guide 544 Answers to a sentinel's challenge intended to confuse or mislead him are prohibited.
1956 A. P. Stauffer Quartermaster Corps ix. 240/2 Smaller, more mobile outfits seemed the obvious answer to the insistent call for better bath facilities.
2006 E. A. Accampo Blessed Motherhood, Bitter Fruit v. 165 The audience stood up and shouted that he had to respond ‘yes or no’. [Paul] Bureau effectively threw down the gauntlet in his answer, advocating restrictions on freedom of speech.
b. colloquial. With possessive and to. The equivalent of or rival to in a particular place, among a particular group, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > rivalry or vying > match or rival
matchc1400
fellowc1425
corrival1586
rival1590
co-rival1678
answer1902
1902 Internat. Railway Jrnl. Oct. 11/1 As an Imperial proposition, it is asserted, the Trans-Canada Railway will be England's answer to Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway.
1955 N. Rorem Paris Diary (1966) xi. 226 For years she's been Europe's answer to Louella Parsons.
1970 T. Wood Bright Side Billy Wilder xv. 167 Erich Maria Remarque..was then editor of Die Dame, Ullstein's answer to Vogue Magazine.
1989 Omni Dec. 148/2 As the technology evolves, magic windows might become our answer to the time machine envisioned by H. G. Wells.
2008 Time Out N.Y. 30 Oct. 31/3 One sandwich combines tender pork loin and piquillo peppers with..crema catalana (Spain's answer to creme brulee).
II. In essentially non-verbal contexts.
8. A practical reply to an action; a thing done in return; a responsive, corresponding, or resulting action.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response > in particular circumstances > as action
answer1535
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. xli. B God shall geue Pharao a prosperous answere.
?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio Pasquine in Traunce f. 105 They gaue me most boyling sighes, for answere: they renewed with double force, the dolefull woes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. v. 79 Great the slaughter is Heere made by 'th' Romane; great the Answer be Britaines must take. View more context for this quotation
1678 A. Behn Llives Sundry Notorious Villains vii. 113 This good old man asked him how he did, and what progress he made in his Studies; and for answer he stab'd him with his Dagger.
1757 T. Leland in tr. Demosthenes Orations (ed. 2) 294 (note) Anthemocritus went from Athens in quality of an herald, to summon the Megareans to desist from their sacrilege, and..for answer, they put him to death.
1816 Some Particulars Battle at Waterloo 4 We opened on the enemy seven guns before they returned an answer.
1844 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 210/1 The French farmer shuts up his house; the peasant flies; the citizen barricades his gates, and gives a cannon-shot for an answer.
1898 A. Lee Four for Fortune xxiii. 258 At length, when we had waved and waved seemingly to no purpose, we saw white puffs issue from the whistle, and presently heard the ship's answer to our signals.
1900 Scribner's Mag. Sept. 290/1 Hanging over the monkey-rail in order to see as well as feel the quick answer of the vessel to her helm.
1986 S. Riley Sometimes towards Eden (2005) vi. 138 Fred Canfield, the helmsman, muttered something foul under his breath. Anne could not be certain if it was in response to the captain's entreaty or the sea's answer to his helm.
1993 D. Johnson in B. Hagerman War Stories ii. 58 At one time, however, when our 60mm mortars fired, we received an answer from the German artillery.
9.
a. A re-echoing or reproduction of sounds; a sound made in response to another.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > [noun] > reverberation or echo
echo1340
repercussion1554
rebound1567
reverberation1569
reverberating1576
answer1609
re-echoing1611
re-echo1613
replicationa1616
back-echo1626
echoinga1649
reboation1648
redounda1665
aftersound1807
verberation1825
reverb1875
anacampsis1879
liveness1931
post-echo1956
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 31 The Melodie of the Verses in the answeres of the first Tone.
1637 J. Milton Comus 10 Extreame shift How to regaine my sever'd companie Compell'd me to awake the courteous Echo To give me answer from her mossie Couch.
1764 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. I. at Antistrophe The antistrophe was a kind of answer or relative echo, both to the strophe and the epode.
1818 H. H. Milman Samor vii. 202 The rocks gave answer to its trampling hoofs.
1846 H. W. Herbert My Shooting Box xi, in Frank Forester's Sporting Scenes & Characters (1857) I. 139 But as the long whoop died away, and the tumultuous answer of the mountains faded out,..the distrust of the eagle seemed to pass away likewise.
1911 J. G. Neihardt Dawn-builder ii. xii. 167 The hush of the dying night was broken only by the happy call and answer of the awakening birds.
2009 E. Moisan Master of Sweet Trade iii. 257 The bell's single warning note floated into the menacing silence, and an echo gave answer.
b. Music. The reiteration of a theme in a composition or movement; the part of a fugue introduced by the second voice, usually at a fifth above or (inversely) a fourth below the subject (cf. subject n. 16). Cf. response n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > piece in specific form > [noun] > fugue > answer
reply1597
answer1737
response1765
comes1838
repercussion1872
risposta1876
1737 tr. J.-P. Rameau Treat. Music xliv. 163 The..Subject of a Fugue ought to contain, at least, half a Bar; and, if it contains more than four, the Answer must begin in the Fourth.
1784 European Mag. & London Rev. Oct. 304/2 A fugue of a free and open subject; the simple answer to which..forms the conclusion.
1837 J. A. Hamilton tr. L. Cherubini Course of Counterpoint & Fugue I. xxxii. 291 The Answer or Consequent immediately follows the Subject. It ought in all respects to be similar to the latter, only in another key.
1850 J. J. de Virués y Spínola & F. T. A. Chaluz de Vernevil Orig. Gram. Harmony xxxiv. 321 The difficulty in contriving the answers to themes..is always in the first two or three notes.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. vi. [Hades] 100 The server piped the answers in the treble.
1936 in D. F. Tovey Chamber Music (1944) 77 The subtle details by which the ‘answer’ differs from the ‘subject’ are technicalities that need not concern the listener.
2007 K. J. Snyder Dieterich Buxtehude (rev. ed.) vii. 235 Although composers had used the tonal answer since the time of Josquin, it was not discussed as a part of fugal theory until the early seventeenth century.

Phrases

P1. in answer (to, archaic also of): as an answer (to) (in various senses), in reply or response (to).
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 5184 Sche was somouned and assent To come in presence of the king And stonde in ansuere of this thing.
1527 Statutes Prohemium Iohannis Rastell (new ed.) f. lii Yf not he shalbe put to a nother answer yf he haue not hys warrante in presence that wyll warrant hym and incontynent enter in answer sauyng to the demaundant hys excepcions agayns hym.
1555 tr. P. M. Vermigli Treat. Cohabitacyon Faithfull f. 33v In answer to these men: furst I saye, that this booke entitled Baruch is none of the Canonicall scriptures.
1571 W. Fulke Confut. Popishe Libelle (new ed.) f. 54 I haue spoken sufficiently, in aunswere of your tenth argumente, out of the scriptures.
1581 R. Parsons (title) A Brief censvre vppon two bookes written in answere to M. Edmonde Campions offer of disputation.
1590 W. Segar Bk. Honor & Armes i. 4 Euerie deniall is a repulse of iniurie, being spoken to that which was iniurie: But if the same be vttered in answere of any words, wherin was no offence, the same becommeth iniurious.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 216 If Hamlet giue the first or second hit, or quit in answere of the third exchange. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) i. ii. 249 In answer of which claime, the Prince our Master Sayes, that you fauour too much of your youth. View more context for this quotation
1646 T. Juxon Jrnl. (1999) (modernized text) 101 The king..told them they well knew how he had, by many messages, invited the parliament to a treaty and had received nothing in answer from them but scorns.
1674 J. Wallis Let. 12 Jan. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1975) X. 432 In answere to yours by ye last post, of Jan. 10.
1708 tr. L. de Argensola Discov. & Conquest Molucco & Philippine Islands iii. 77 A Soldier fired a Piece at some Birds, and in Answer to the Gun, certain Indians, near a Mountain, on the other Side of the Bay, gave horrid shouts.
1753 H. Rimius Candid Narr. Rise & Progress Herrnhuters (ed. 2) 110 Having made some Representations at Stutgard, he received in Answer from the Herrnhuters that lived there, that they would report the Case to the Society at Herrnhut.
1798 J. Wentworth Compl. Syst. Pleading VI. 490 Indictment against an attorney for perjury in an affidavit in answer to interrogatories.
1840 T. B. Macaulay in Edinb. Rev. Jan. 357 Ordinary criminal justice knows nothing of set-off. The greatest desert cannot be pleaded in answer to a charge of the slightest transgression.
1897 tr. V. Hugo Sel. Poems 261 Distant cannon roared In answer to the Tocsin.
1920 L. Spence Encycl. Occultism (2003) II. 280/1 He told the story of his experiences and conversion again and again in his Appeal to the Public, published in answer of the abuse heaped upon him.
1944 Sa-eeda Wog 16/1 In answer to the challenge the Enzed one-pipper in charge yelled ‘Waipukurau!’ and drew a volley in reply.
1970 A. K. Armah Fragments iii. 87 Large, new buildings slid unhurriedly by. Baako asked the driver what they were and in answer got a small flow of strangely casual answers.
2010 C. L. Burton How to Pray ii. 24 In answer to our prayer, God may make salvation more enticing to the sinner.
P2. the answer to one's prayers and variants: the occurrence of an event for which one has prayed; (hence) a greatly desired solution. Cf. the answer to a maiden's prayer at maiden n. 1b.
ΚΠ
1821 E. Cornelius Little Osage Captive iv. 93 Scarcely had he time to witness the success of his labours, and to behold the answer to his prayers.
1888 J. M. Hark Unity of Church in Christianity & Evol. iv. 117 The Pilgrims prayed for a free country, and America is the answer to their prayers.
1901 Fitchburg (Mass.) Daily Sentinel 9 Nov. 3/4 As it must happen in this world, the answer to our prayers comes in a way and at a cost we little dream of.
1947 V. Davies Miracle on 34th St. xvi. 106 This guy Kringle's the answer to our prayers!
2000 Daily Mail (Nexis) 24 June 65 But with ever increasing pressure on manufacturers worldwide to deliver greater fuel efficiency, the IVT appears to offer an irresistible answer to their prayers.
P3. colloquial. to know (also have) all the answers: to be knowledgeable or expert in everything; to be worldly-wise or experienced; cf. similar phrases at know v. Phrases 3.Frequently used ironically.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > worldly wisdom > have worldly wisdom [phrase]
to know what's whatc1422
to know (also learn, show, teach, tell) (a person) a thing or two1760
to know one's way around1814
to have one's head screwed on right (also the right way)1821
to have been around1872
to know (also have) all the answers1896
to know how many (blue) beans make five-
1896 W. C. Russell What Cheer! xix. 334 The Wreck Commissioner..does all the questioning, knows all the answers, finds all the faults, and it's him and him only who loads the pavements with starving captains by suspending their certificates.
1933 G. Laven Rough Stuff p. ix To know all the questions and answers, to know your way about. To be clever in things relating to crime and law-breaking.
1935 G. Lorimer & S. Lorimer Heart Specialist v. 128 ‘You may be one of these carefully reared dames,’ he said with a trace of doubt in his voice, ‘but you sure know all the answers.’
1943 Rotarian June 54/1 A man who literally ‘has all the answers’ on the matter of legerdemain is Rotarian Carl W. Jones, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, magician and publisher of magic books.
1955 A. L. Rowse Expansion of Elizabethan Eng. x. 408 The positive old lady in the garden, who knew all the answers and could not be told anything, had not ceased to be a marvellous politician.
1990 P. Magubane et al. Soweto Portrait of City vii. 125 All professional players are given nicknames according to some personal quirk or ability: ‘City Late’ is a player who, like the final newspaper edition of the day, has all the answers.
2003 D. Hewson Season for Dead (2004) 370 Seems to think he knows all the answers too.

Compounds

† answer-jobber n. Obsolete rare a person who makes a trade of writing answers to other authors' works.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer > types of
text-writer1463
scribelet1599
engrosser1606
under-scribe1612
answer-jobber1712
cocket writer1743
figure-servant1850
texter1884
1712 J. Swift Remarks on Barrier Treaty 20 This race of Answer-jobbers..have no sort of Conscience in their Dealings.
answer key n. a textbook, section of a textbook, website, etc., that provides the solutions to mathematical problems, grammar exercises, etc.; = key n.1 5c.
ΚΠ
1912 E. L. Thorndike Education ix. 185 ‘This procedure is right because it always gives the right answer,’ the teacher's word or the answer-key being the means of verification.
1970 Jrnl. Risk & Insurance 37 115 Objective questions are included for each assignment..and an answer key is provided.
2005 Washington Post (Nexis) 1 July b3 The University of Virginia is considering how to handle an incident in which first-year graduate students used an answer key they discovered on the Internet to complete an assignment.
answer print n. Cinematography the first print of a film made after editing for action and visual effects has taken place.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > printing > [noun] > a print > other types of print
mute1933
answer print1940
internegative1952
married print1953
transmission print1960
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 38/2 Answer print, the first print from the edited negative, shown to the producers of the sound-film for final approval before release.
1959 J. Halas & R. Manvell Technique Film Animation xix. 234 The studio manager..records deadline dates for line-tests, rough cuts and answer print screenings.
2010 Variety (Nexis) 6 June a1 A post-production consultant and VP at New Films Intl., estimates it costs around $30,000 to $35,000 to obtain the first 35mm answer print for a movie finished in high-def.
answer sheet n. (a) a sheet of paper used to write the answers to a test, examination, quiz, etc.; (b) a sheet of paper containing the correct answers to a test, examination, quiz, etc., used as a guide for marking students' answers.
ΚΠ
1860 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 12 May 5/5 Mr. Bentinck moved ‘for copies of the examination papers and the answer sheets by the candidates for the appointments of factory boys’.
1941 N.Y. Herald Tribune 20 June 16/1 An official answer sheet which was provided for the teachers.
1985 S. M. Johnson Multiple Choice Tests in Princ. Business p. viii/2 If you are asked to shade the key on the answer sheet, do not tick or circle the answer.
2010 J. L. Holm Turtle in Paradise ix. 84 They stole the answer sheet for a test from Miss Sugarapple's desk.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

answerv.

Brit. /ˈɑːnsə/, /ˈansə/, U.S. /ˈænsər/
Forms: early Old English andsuarian, Old English andwarode (past tense, probably transmission error), Old English andswærian (rare), Old English andswarde (past tense, rare), Old English andswarian, Old English andswearian (rare), Old English andsweorian (rare), Old English andswerian, Old English andsworian, Old English andswyrian (rare), Old English answarian (rare), Old English answerian (rare), Old English antswarian (rare), Old English ondsuæria (Northumbrian), Old English ondsuaria (Northumbrian), Old English ondsuearia (Northumbrian), Old English ondsueria (Northumbrian), Old English ondsuoria (Northumbrian), Old English ondswærian (Mercian), Old English ondswarde (Mercian, past tense), Old English ondswarian (chiefly Anglian), Old English ondsweorian (chiefly Anglian), Old English ondswerian, Old English ondsworian (chiefly Anglian), Old English onsuæria (Northumbrian), Old English onsuarade (Northumbrian, past tense), Old English onswarian (chiefly Anglian), Old English onsworade (Northumbrian, past tense), late Old English onswærian (Kentish), late Old English onswerian (Kentish), early Middle English ændswerie, early Middle English andswarie, early Middle English andswære, early Middle English andswerie, early Middle English andswurie, early Middle English andswyrie (west midlands), early Middle English anndswerenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English answerie, early Middle English answyrde (past tense), early Middle English antswarede (past tense), early Middle English enswerie (south-west midlands), early Middle English ondswere, early Middle English ondswerie, early Middle English onswerie, early Middle English ontswerie, Middle English ancewer, Middle English andswar, Middle English andsware, Middle English andswer, Middle English andswere, Middle English andzuerie (south-eastern), Middle English ansere, Middle English ansewer, Middle English ansfor, Middle English ansquar (north-west midlands and northern), Middle English ansqwer (north-west midlands), Middle English ansqwere (Norfolk), Middle English ansswar, Middle English ansswer, Middle English ansswere, Middle English ansuar, Middle English ansuere, Middle English ansuerie (southern), Middle English ansuerye (southern), Middle English ansur, Middle English answare, Middle English answeer, Middle English answerr, Middle English answery (southern), Middle English answerye (southern), Middle English answr, Middle English aswer (northern), Middle English aunsware (in a late copy), Middle English avnswar, Middle English avnswer, Middle English awnsuer, Middle English awnsuere, Middle English awnsver, Middle English hansuer (northern), Middle English hanswer (northern), Middle English hanswor (northern), Middle English onser (north-west midlands), Middle English onsewere, Middle English onsquar, Middle English onsquere, Middle English onsuer, Middle English onsuere, Middle English onsuerre, Middle English onswar, Middle English onsware, Middle English onswer, Middle English onswere, Middle English onswhar, Middle English ounswere, Middle English unsware, Middle English vnsquar (north-west midlands), Middle English vnsquer (northern), Middle English vnsuare, Middle English vnsuer, Middle English vnswar, Middle English vnsware, Middle English vnswer, Middle English vnswere, Middle English 1600s anser, Middle English–1500s ansuer, Middle English–1500s aunswar, Middle English–1600s annswer, Middle English–1600s ansure, Middle English–1600s answar, Middle English–1600s answeare, Middle English–1600s answere, Middle English–1600s aunswer, Middle English–1600s aunswere, Middle English–1600s awnswer, Middle English–1600s awnswere, Middle English– answer, 1500s answre, 1500s aunsweare, 1500s–1600s unswer, 1500s–1600s unswere, 1600s ainsweare, 1600s answear, 1600s answyr; Scottish pre-1700 anser, pre-1700 ansor, pre-1700 ansour, pre-1700 ansowr, pre-1700 anssuer, pre-1700 anssuir, pre-1700 ansuar, pre-1700 ansueir, pre-1700 ansuer, pre-1700 ansuere, pre-1700 ansuir, pre-1700 ansuor, pre-1700 ansver, pre-1700 answar, pre-1700 answare, pre-1700 answear, pre-1700 answeir, pre-1700 answere, pre-1700 answour, pre-1700 aunswere, pre-1700 awnswer, pre-1700 1700s– answer.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian ondsera , onswera , ontswera to answer for, Old Icelandic andsvara to answer, to respond, to answer for, be responsible or accountable for, Old Swedish andsvara , ansvara to answer, to respond, to answer for, be responsible or accountable for (Swedish ansvara ), Old Danish andsware to answer, to respond, to answer for, be responsible or accountable for (Danish †ansvare ) < the Germanic base of answer n.On the semantic development see discussion at answer n. In Old English a weak verb of Class II.; occasional forms appear to suggest the existence of a Class I by-form, but are more likely to reflect later Old English weakening of unstressed vowels (compare, however, early syncope of the vowel in the past tense forms andswarde and (Mercian) ondswarde ). As with forms of answer n., in Old English manuscripts the prefix is often abbreviated by the Tironian note. The listed Old English and early Middle English forms may in some instances depend on editorial decisions on how to expand the Tironian note. In Old English the verb is usually construed with the person replied to in the dative. The prefixed form ge-andswarian (compare y- prefix) is also attested in a similar range of senses (earlier in senses 14a, 23b).
To reply or respond in various ways to a person or thing.
I. Senses relating to response to a question, remark, communication, etc., sometimes also involving an idea of correspondence (cf. branch III.), and extensions of these.
* Contexts involving a verbal response.
1. To speak or write in reply to a question, remark, or any expression of desire or opinion. Also: to reply to an implied question, to solve a doubt. Also in figurative contexts.
a. transitive. With the person asking the question, etc., as single (originally dative) object. To reply to (a person). Usually with adverb or phrase specifying the manner in which the reply is given or indicating the nature of its content.
ΚΠ
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: John xviii. 22 Sic respondis pontifici : hu ondsuæræstu [OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus Cambr. &swarast ðu] suæ ðæm biscobi?
lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 39 Ful gesceadlice ðu me andswarast and ful rihte.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 42 A Payn hit ofherde & hym wel sone answarede [c1300 Laud answerede, a1350 Harl. onsuerede].
?c1335 Erthe upon Erthe (Harl. 913) (1911) 2 (MED) Erþ askiþ erþ, and erþ hir answerid.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 1304 Mildely he him þam vnsquerede.
c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 297 Þe toþer vnsquarut him wyth skill.
1568 Sir F. Knollys in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) II. 245 Hyr Grace answerd me very curtysely.
1611 Bible (King James) Prov. xxvi. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 133 Should I haue answer'd Caius Cassius so? View more context for this quotation
1708 Brit. Apollo 9–14 Apr. Answer me like Gentlemen, Not whine with Pedant like pretence.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. iv. 490 Whom with a frowning brow, the brave Tydides answer'd.
1855 J. F. Smith Temptation xix. 81/1 To his surprise, the old man answered him with more than usual seriousness.
1903 H. Hapgood Autobiogr. Thief viii. 180 I started in to talk about old times in the stir and..he answered me by saying ‘Nix’.
1993 J. K. Hall tr. T. Terzani Goodnight, Mister Lenin (1994) ii. 23 It gives me great satisfaction to answer him with other questions.
b. transitive. With double object, the reply and (originally dative) the person asking the question, etc., or with single object and to (formerly also †unto) the person. To say (something) in response to (a person); to say (something) in response to a person.Cf. also sense 1j.
(a) With noun or pronoun (reply chiefly indefinite).
ΚΠ
OE West Saxon Gospels: Mark (Corpus Cambr.) xiv. 40 Hi nyston hwæt hi him andswaredon.
lOE St. Margaret (Corpus Cambr.) (1994) 166 Seo eadiga fæmne nolde him andswarigen nan word.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 51 Ne ondswerie ȝe him nawiht.
a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) 699 Þanne wole þe kyng answerye to ham þis.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Sam. iii. 11 Then coulde he not answere him one worde agayne, he feared him so.
1611 Bible (King James) Job xxiii. 5 The words which he would answere me. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Matt. xxii. 46 No man was able to answere him a word. View more context for this quotation
1751 S. Richardson Clarissa (ed. 3) V. xix. 203 What I answered to him therefore may do for thee, and spare thee the trouble of writing.
1773 G. A. Stevens Trip to Portsmouth i. 8 Don't answer me a single syllable, sirrah, lest I beat you to atoms, you dog.
1887 W. Morris tr. Homer Odyssey I. xi. 192 I spake; but he midst groaning thus answered me the word.
1922 C. E. Hewes Songs of Rockies 257 She answered not a word to me, But stood with downcast eyes.
2008 D. J. Crooks & D. W. Bostick Charleston's Trial vi. 76 I believe he answered me nothing, but he looked in the window and went in.
(b) With direct or indirect speech.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) ii. i. 96 Ondswarede him mon þæt heo Ongle nemde wæron.
OE Andreas (1932) 202 Him ða ondswarude ece dryhten: ‘Eala, Andreas, þæt ðu a woldest þæs siðfætes sæne weorþan.’
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 45 (MED) Paul him onswerde, ‘Lauerð, ic biwepe þas monifolde pine.’
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 4109 God hem andswerede, ‘iosue Ic wile ben loder-man after ðe.’
c1390 (?a1300) Stations of Rome (Vernon) (1867) i. l. 205 Peter..seide, ‘lord, whoder woltou’; Crist onswerde to peter þo, ‘In to Rome..I go.’
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iii. 99 They..answerd to hym that he was a vylayne to requyre & desire of them thynge that was so peryllous.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 62 J ansuere the, yat [etc.].
1531 Bp. W. Barlow Dyaloge Lutheran Faccyons sig. O2 He answeryd to me that he dyd yt in contempte of hypocrysy.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. ii. sig. N4 To whom he aunswerd wroth, loe there thy hire. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Judges xi. 13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land,..: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xxv. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the maner of the Romanes [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
a1626 L. Andrewes Αποσπασματια Sacra: Coll. Posthumous Lect. (1657) 306 He will not, to indanger his own life, answer no to the King.
1654 R. Flecknoe Ten Years Trav. iv. 8 To whom I answered (after my most humble remerciments for so high a favour) That as I yet wanted nothing [etc.].
1759 Scots Mag. Jan. 49/2 I sent for my first lieutenant, and told him to take the command of the deck for a while. He answered me, that he would.
1869 G. C. Hill Benjamin Franklin vii. 169 Logan did not exactly like to be rebuked in this style by his master, before all the company. So he answered to him—‘I being thy servant [etc.]’.
1912 F. M. Hueffer Ladies whose Bright Eyes ii. iv. 171 It was answered to him that..the Abbot must stay in his monastery of St. Edmund's.
1963 A. Schimmel Gabriel's Wing ii. 161 Nadwi answered him that the ‘prophetic intelligence be higher than normal human intelligence’ and that the Prophet is guided in his decisions towards the absolutely right way.
2002 G. P. Nabhan Coming Home to Eat 76 ‘That's what it tasted like to me when I ate it years ago,’ she answered to me in Spanish.
c. intransitive. Without construction specifying the reply or person asking the question, etc. To reply, give a response. Frequently with adverb or phrase specifying the manner in which the reply is given or indicating the nature of its content.In quot. a1200 in collocation with queath v.; cf. sense 2.With the use in quot. 1894 cf. to answer the question at Phrases 2.See also to answer in the affirmative at affirmative adj., n., and int. Phrases, to answer in monosyllables at monosyllable n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [verb (intransitive)]
andwurdec885
answerOE
respoundc1300
replyc1405
replique1477
reanswer1526
respond1639
revert1973
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)]
andwurdec885
aqueathOE
answerOE
swarec1175
respoundc1300
replyc1425
replique1477
reanswer1523
replicate1535
undersay1579
rejoin1581
resolve1586
return1597
repone1614
resounda1617
repart1631
remoot1676
reason1841
to get back to1963
OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) x. 28 Þa cwæð he, rihte þu andswarodest.
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 135 Hwu mihte heo eadmodlucor andswerigen?
c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 63 Axiæð him sylfne; he hæfð þa yldæ þæt he andswyriæn mæȝ.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 129 He answerede, þus queðinde,..‘Ich am his steuene þe remeð in þis westerne.’
1372 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 72 I ansuerede bleþely, For his word me paiȝede.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 437 Ye byschop hard him swa ansuer.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 52v Þen onswared Elan easely agayne.
1584 J. Lyly Alexander, Campaspe, & Diogenes ii. ii. sig. B4v A witte apt to conceaue, and quick to aunswere.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 196 Why prat'st thou to thy selfe, and answer'st not? View more context for this quotation
1688 P. Rycaut tr. G. de la Vega Royal Comm. Peru (new ed.) iv. xlii. 753 Carvajal..whispered him in the ear; what it was I could not hear, but Piçarro answered in a few words, which were, Look you Father.
1700 in Eng. Acquisitions Guinea & E.-India 98 He answered in a different Language which I hear all the Mandarins use.
1764 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto v. 170 Thou answerest from the point.
1833 Madras Jrnl. Lit. & Sci. 1 29 Ask, and I will answer truly.
1891 W. How Lighter Moments (1900) 22 He answered with a rough ‘Yes’.
1894 H. Custance Riding Recoll. vi. 88 I..asked ‘King Lud’ the question. He answered in the most generous manner possible,..and won.
1954 Flying June 42/3 ‘Hunter, I want to fly. Will you teach me?’..‘I just didn't know how to answer,’ Jones said.
1974 L. Niven & J. Pournelle Mote in God's Eye (1975) ii. xxii. 198 Rod was ebulliently cordial as he answered.
2004 Boys Toys July 122/2 ‘Which of you sidewinders stole my horse?’ he bellowed... No-one answered.
d. intransitive. With to the person asking the question, etc. To reply to a person.In quot. OE in collocation with queath v.; cf. sense 2.In later use chiefly in more formal contexts.
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OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xxi. 27 Respondentes ad Iesum dixerunt, nescimus : þa onswarade to þæm hælende & cwedun niton we.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 11 On þisse wise ondswereð to þe askeres Of oure ordre.
c1425 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Harl.) 53 Ȝef ys neuew hadde mys do..he scholde Onswere to eche mon, þat to hym siwe wolde.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 68 I þe Lord schal ansuere to him.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 97v Þen priam to þe prinse prestly onswart.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. iii. 64 Answer to vs. View more context for this quotation
1720 J. Dennis Invader of his Country iii. ii. 41 Cor. What is the Reason, That being pass'd for Consul..You take it off again? Sic. Answer to us.
1838 T. N. Talfourd Athenian Captive i. i. 6 Bid the queen Here answer to us.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Love & Duty in Poems (new ed.) II. 84 To that man My work shall answer.
1913 Senate Documents (U.S. Govt.) 19 469 Mr. Robbins. I will tell you why you don't get it in the answer—because he interrupted him, and the reply is broken in the record. That is what I object to. Mr. Folk. The witness answered to me.
1965 E. Heier L. H. Nicolay (1737–1820) & his Contemporaries i. i. 25 Nicolay..could well appreciate d'Alembert's decision and thus answered to him from Vienna: [etc.].
2008 G. Plesea Cast thy Bread upon Waters 141 What could he possibly say, how to answer to the lady who was arrogating her possession over the seat in which he was sitting.
e. transitive. With the reply as single object. To say (something) in response or as a reply.
(a) With indirect or direct speech.
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OE Genesis A (1931) 2691 Abraham þa andswarode: ‘Ne dyde ic for facne [etc.].’
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. i. 28 Andswearedon Scottas, þæt heora land ne wære to þæs mycel, þæt hi mihton twa þeode gehabban.
c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 221 Þo ansuerden þe paens þet non ne hedden i herd hij.
a1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Vitell.) (1966) 353 (MED) Heo ne onsuerede ȝe ne no.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 190 He ansuerede þet he ne hedde bote þri pans.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 1095 He onsquared [a1400 Gött. ansuerd, a1400 Trin. Cambr. vnswered]..Quen was I keper. of þi childe.
a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 102 He aunswerd that women were like a tree called adefla.
a1525 ( Coventry Leet Bk. (1908) II. 326 (MED) The seyd Recordour answered that þe seid man myght not nor owe not to be restored thyder.
1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Kvij He answered that he had contrary Edicts from the King in his sleeue.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xxii. 8 I answered, Who art thou, Lord? View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 91 My heart accords thereto; And yet a thousand times it answer's [sic] no. View more context for this quotation
1660 S. Pepys Diary 9 Jan. (1970) I. 12 He answered that..he did it by virtue of his office.
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Visct. Cobham 5 The mighty Czar might answer, he was drunk.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. i. vi. 77 She enquired how long he had left Suffolk? ‘But yesterday noon, ma'am,’ he answered.
1837 I. D. Rupp tr. T. J. von Braght Bloody Theatre 101/2 Tharacus answered: That you may do; but since I was formerly a soldier, you are not at liberty, to torture me as you please to do.
1893 Mrs. W. K. Clifford Wild Proxy ii. 33 ‘I've a stupid part in London, but we go on tour next week; then I play lead.’ ‘That's good,’ he answered.
1906 N.Y. Evening Post 6 Dec. 8 Eleven Senators answered yes, four no, and four straddled.
1947 C. Gray Contingencies 174 Witness answered that the clothes which she saw were unsoiled and unspotted.
2009 F. Trix Sufi Journey of Baba Rexheb ii. 29 ‘Do you not have a child?’ ‘No, Baba,’ he answered.
(b) With noun or pronoun (reply chiefly indefinite).In quot. c1384 to answer nothing in response to an accusation; cf. sense 18a(a).
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eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. xvi. 228 Mid þy heo mon þa eft frægn, for hwon heo þis dydon, ne meahton heo owiht elles ondswarian.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 9 Þa ahsode he hine manegum wordum & he naht ne andswarude [c1200 Hatton naht ne andswerede; L. nihil illi respondebat].
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxvii. 12 Whenne he was acusid..he answeride no thing.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 1346 Thane answers sir Gayous fulle gobbede wordes.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxi. 260 Fyrst wold I here What he wold answere.
a1655 Sir N. L'Estrange in W. J. Thoms Anecd. & Trad. (1831) 4 Told him merrily he never met with such a dull clay-pated Foole, that could not answere a word, and bade him remember he out-fool'd him once.
1732 H. Fielding Old Debauchees iii. ii. 29 I answer'd not a Word; then it kissed me a hundred times.
1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus xxviii We have striven..to draw some word from her; but she..sobs, and answers nothing.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 8 Sept. 519/2 Chips answered never a word.
1920 G. Moore Coming of Gabrielle (1921) ii. 97 When you asked me if I was surprised at Lewis's youth, I answered—I've forgotten what I answered.
1970 Field & Stream Feb. 33 (advt.) If you answered ‘a’ or ‘b’, you're liable to have a water-logged shipmate on your hands.
1996 F. Chappell Farewell I'm bound to leave You (1997) 166 She answered not a word but withdrew her thirty-two special from her belt.
f. transitive. With the reply as single object and to (formerly also †unto) the question, etc. To say (something) in response to a question.
(a) With noun or pronoun (reply indefinite).In quot. OE to answer nought in response to an accusation; cf. sense 18a(b).
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OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xxvi. 62 Surgens princeps sacerdotum ait illi nihil respondens [read respondes] ad ea quae isti aduersum te testificantur : aras ðe aldor sacerda cueð to him nowiht ondsuarede to ðæm [OE Rushw. Gospels nawiht ondwyrdest to þæm] ða ðas ilco wið ðec cyðað?
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iii. l. 1527 To which no word for sorwe she answerede [rhyme ferde].
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxx. 559 What answereth he to this? Nay (saith he) whosoeuer will be greatest.
1594 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1908) 5 289 It is thought he had stopped his ears with wull at his deathe, for he never answered word to any thinge they said.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 iv. vii. 45 What answeres Clarence to his soueraignes will?
1638 N. Ferrar tr. Hundred & Ten Considerations Signior John Valdesso 126 Having said that which moveth men not to attribute all things to God and that which maybe answered unto it, now I will say that which I think thereabout.
1769 G. Baretti Acct. Manners & Customs Italy (ed. 2) I. iv. 49 (note) Our author answers not a Word to these questions in his Apology.
1812 Enquirer 2 44 Domingo answered nothing to this fine rhetoric of mine.
1913 F. Rolt-Wheeler Boy with U.S. Indians i. 12 And what did you answer to that, Wolf?
2006 A. Bradbury Develop your NLP Skills (ed. 3) ii. 13 Now, whatever you answered to those questions, keep thinking of that experience and start changing the qualities of your image.
(b) With indirect or direct speech.
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a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deeds xxv. 16 To whiche Y answeride, That it is not custom to Romayns, [etc.].
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes iii. xii. sig. nj I ansuere to this that the cas that thou spekest of is dyffered fro Iuste deffense.
1582 R. Madox Diary 16 Aug. in E. S. Donno Elizabethan in 1582 (1976) 166 Hearon was demawnded what was a fyzeler and why privy taleberers were cauled fyzelers. To this was answered that as he which fyzeleth doth stink worse than a playn farter.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. iii. 128 To which I answer that this is a meer inconsequent.
1692 I. Newton Let. 10 Dec. in Corr. (1961) III. 235 To your third Query I answer that it may be [etc.].
1739 J. Mottley Hist. Peter I iii. 333 The Deputies answered to the first Question, that it was publickly known, that [etc.].
1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iv. §10. 133 To this I answer, that admitting [etc.].
1803 Parl. Reg. I. 56 When he said he could not imagine how any man could seriously think how an impression could be made on our trade or navy, he would answer to this, that as they were so materially and intimately connected together, [etc.].
1874 Lady Herbert tr. J. A. von Hübner Ramble round World I. 339 When you answer to this: ‘Well, why not disarm the samurais?’ the reply is: ‘This is a serious business.’
1921 Southwestern Reporter 229 948/2 They..answered to the question that the reduction of the receipts for the remainder of the season of 1917 amounted to $250.
1949 F. Maclean Eastern Approaches I. viii. 133 If the authorities had received no instructions regarding my journey it could only be due to a most regrettable omission. To this he answered that this was as it might be.
2010 B. K. Hofer & A. S. Moore iConnected Parent ix. 184 More than one out of three women..and about one in six men..answered yes to the question ‘Do you still feel too fat even though others say you are thin?’
g. intransitive. With to (formerly also †unto) the question, etc. To reply to a question. Now rare.
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?1387 T. Wimbledon Serm. (Corpus Cambr.) (1967) 70 Euerich of þyse shal answere to þre questiouns.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1461 (MED) Thou unto a questioun Which I schal axe schalt ansuere [rhyme swere].
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 190 To all thing he answarit abilly.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. iv. 35 Is thy newes good or bad? answere to that. View more context for this quotation
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures (1663) xviii. 62 With the like extravagancy he answered to many other questions.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. lxviii Mr. B. here answers to a Question, that never was ask'd him.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) ii. iv. ⁋15. 239 His learned Counsel..made an Harangue, charming him to be free..in answering to his Questions.
1881 Bible (R.V.) Luke xiv. 6 They could not answer again unto these things.
1998 I. Feletti & M. Rapallini in A. Sinopoli Arch Bridges 165 Colonnetti already answered to this question with his proposition.
†h. transitive. With the person asking the question, etc., as single object and to the question, etc. To reply to (a person) in response to a question. Obsolete.
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c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 2079 Adryane In this manere Answerde [c1500 Selden ansuerd] hym to his profre.
c1450 tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium (1909) 1 Gloriouse maistir, y praie ee to answere me to my questiouns..to þe worschipe of god & profijt of mennes soules þat ben not groundly liȝtned in hooly writte.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xiv. f. cv They coulde not answer hym agayne to that.
1572 Serm. Stamford (new ed.) in H. Latimer Frutefull Serm. f. 90v In answering him to this they would haue caught him by the foote.
1611 Bible (King James) Luke xiv. 6 They could not answere him againe to these things. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 76 Answer me To what I aske you. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour iv. i. 39 Make out the rest,—I am disorder'd so I know not farther what to say or do:—But answer me to what you think I meant.
1729 C. Coffey Beggar's Wedding (ed. 3) iii. iv. 61 As ye are true Beggars, without Cant or Quibble, answer me to the Questions following—How long, Mr. Bridegroom, have you been Master of a Crutch?
1830 G. Darley Familiar Astron. v. 100 Answer me to this: you behold that..and yet you assert that this ‘orb of flame’, as you called it yourself, is not a globe of fire?
i. transitive. With the question, etc., as single object; formerly also with to the person asking the question. To reply to (a question); (formerly also) †to reply to (a question) in response to a person (obsolete).
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1509 Longe Paruula (de Worde) sig. Aiv The worde that answereth the questyon shall be the no[m]i[n]atyf case to ye verbe.
1546 J. Bale First Examinacyon A. Askewe f. 8v Is not here..wele fauerd & wele fashyoned dyuynyte, to establysh an artycle of the Christen faythe? Wylye wynchestre answereth thys questyon as folysh as it is, in hys wyse detectyon of the deuyls sophystrye.
1582 Record's Grounde of Artes (rev. ed.) i. i. sig. Siv You have answered the question very artificiallie: And truelie I commende you.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xvii. sig. Gg6v Before we could answer that Question, we must ask one of him, which was, what he had been doing.
1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 9 A Repeating-Clock does, without Missing, or Mistake, answer the Question (as it were) which by pulling the String you ask it.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 78 To answer their Question directly.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XI. 564/2 We may now perhaps be able to answer the question, ‘What is time?’
1809 T. Jefferson Let. 24 Mar. in Papers (2004) Retirement Ser. I. 80 I answered your enquiries relative to the Campeachy hammocks & Paccans.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. x. 229 ‘Um!’ said she, as if hesitating to answer my question.
1843 Southern Lit. Messenger Apr. 236/2 It has been often asked why he does not relinquish the anvil and trust to his wits. He once answered the question to me by two sober reasons.
1854 C. Reade & T. Taylor King's Rival ii. 30 Buck. You must answer this to me, sir! Pepys. My lord, I vow I came here on public business.
1860 O. Meredith Lucile i. iv. xxi Who can answer where any road leads to?
1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 75 My lady's cousin,..Answer'd all queries touching those at home.
1923 College Rhymes 14 He will never get weary Of answering any query On the partial impact theory.
2008 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Mar. 27/2 To the three economists, finding out who won or lost money..was less important than whether this exercise answered the question posed in the barroom.
j. transitive. With double object, the person asking the question, etc., and the question. To provide (a person) with a reply to (a question). Chiefly in the imperative.Probably in origin a contextual use of sense 1b.
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c1525 J. Rastell Of Gentylnes & Nobylyte sig. C.i Then to you both answer me thys short clause Is not gentyll condycyons the most princypall cause To make one to be a gentylman.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. iii. 238 Ere thou go, but answer me one doubt. View more context for this quotation
1734 T. Cooke tr. Terence Eunuch iv. xi, in tr. Terence Comedys II. 375 First answer me this,—when I made you a Present of that Virgin, did not you promise to give yourself solely up to me?
1826 in W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 23 Sept. 789 Let them answer me this question, or shut up their mouths upon this subject.
1894 Idler Aug. 67 If ghost clothes, why not ghost money. Answer me that now. Ye'll find that a stickler.
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xxi. 364 What will restore me the braw bairn that dee'd in the Pest whilk was sent to punish him? Answer me that, kimmers.
2010 New Statesman (Nexis) 29 Mar. 59 What's the point of paying them so much, eh? Answer me that, my little babushka.
2. intransitive and transitive (with the person asking the question as object). In collocation with to say or a synonymous verb, in uses equivalent to those at sense 1: to speak in reply to a question; to reply to (a person). Now chiefly archaic.
ΚΠ
OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) iii. 9 Ða andswarode Nichodemus & cwæð [L. respondit Nicodemus et dixit; Gk. ἀπεκρίθη Νικόδημος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ], ‘hu magon þas þing þus geweorðan?’
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 963 Ða andswerade se arcebiscop Dunstan of Cantwarbyrig & sæide: ‘Ic tyðe þet ealle þa þing [etc.].’
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 102 Iuliene þe eadie ontswerede him & seide.
a1250 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Titus) (1940) 12 Ho mei onsweren & seien.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. ii. 27 And Danyel answerde byfore the kyng, and saith [L. et respondens Danihel coram rege ait], The mysterie whiche the kyng axith, the wise men..mown not shewe to the kyng.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 275 Arthour con onsware, & sayd, ‘sir cortays knyȝt [etc.].’
a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 1866 Vnswered þe monke, and sayde ryȝt þus.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xiii. f. xcixv He shall answer and saye vnto you [Gk. ἀποκριθεὶς ἐρεῖ ὑμῖν]: I knowe nott whence ye are.
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 750/2 I answer and saye, that this bishop belike had ouerwatched hym selfe in this matter.
1611 Bible (King James) Mark xi. 14 And Jesus answered, and said vnto it [Gk. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῇ], No man eate fruit of thee hereafter. View more context for this quotation
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xl. 291 Methought the old lady, moved with Dorcas's story, answered and said, ‘Hasten, O damsel.’
1811 Narr. Proc. Judicatories Reformed Church in North Amer. relative to Revd. D. Graham 116 Mr. Black answered and said, he would not get them until every other body would get them—that is, when they are printed.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 162 And Lancelot spoke And answered him at full.
1894 O. Wilde Poems in Prose (1907) 25 And his soul answered him and said: ‘God filled thee with the perfect knowledge of Himself, and thou hast given this knowledge away to others.’
1945 N. Marsh Died in Wool (1998) 169 The Lord said unto me: ‘What's biting you, Perce?’ And I answered and said: ‘Me sins lie bitter in me belly..I've backslid.’
2006 F. R. Psaki tr. Tristano Riccardiano 153 She answered and said that she knew nothing of all this and was not aware of it.
3. intransitive and transitive. To sing or recite antiphonally (in response to words or the utterer of words).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > sing antiphonally
answerOE
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (intransitive)] > sing antiphonally
answer1697
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxvii. 316 Æfter þære huslunge stodon twa heofenlice werod ætforan ðære cytan dura, singende heofenlicne sang... Werhades men ongunnon symle þone dream, and wifhades men him sungon ongean andswariende.
OE Regularis Concordia (Tiber.) (1993) xxxvii. 75 Pueri in dextera parte chori..sonora psallant uoce Kyrrieleison, duoque in sinistra parte similiter..respondeant Christe eleyson : cnafan on swyðran dæle chores..nid [read mid] geswegre singan stæfne & twegen on wynstran dæle gelice..andswarian.
a1425 Ordination of Nuns (Lansd.) in E. A. Kock Rule St. Benet (1902) 143 ‘Sed libera nos,’ sall þe qwere answer..Þe preste sall singe, ‘Mitte ei [etc.]’.. The qwere sall answer, ‘Et de sion [etc.].’
1568 V. Skinner tr. R. González de Montes Discouery Inquisition of Spayne f. 49 The Psalme being ended.., the chiefe Inquisitour singeth a sort of Uersicles, and the whole Quier answereth them with theyr Responces.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. xviii. 7 The women answered one another, as they played. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 31 Both alike inspir'd To sing, and answer as the Song requir'd.
1704 R. Allen Biogr. Eccl. II. 583 Afterwards Alternate or Antiphonal singing came to be the Custom, wherein one part of the Congregation mutually answer'd the other.
1865 Reader 19 Aug. 214 A ‘dialogue chorus’ where the two bodies of damsels answer each other antiphonally in successive couplets.
1907 Musical Times 1 Aug. 539/1 Four-part choral writing has been chiefly adopted until the antiphon..which is written for a bass solo, the choir answering with the words ‘Govern them, and lift them up for ever’.
1959 V. Zuckerkandl Sense of Mus. (1971) iv. 143 From measure 15 on, the 1st tenor and soprano call and answer each other.
2010 B. Keeney Bushman Way of tracking God iii. 65 Now Brother Ed speeds up the music, and I shout out a line that the choir answers as a back-and-forth musical call.
4. intransitive and transitive (with the person addressed as object). To make a reply or (esp.) a rejoinder to a superior; = to answer back at Phrasal verbs. Formerly chiefly with †again. Now somewhat rare (except as in sense to answer back at Phrasal verbs).In early use only as a contextual use of sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [verb (intransitive)] > inappropriately
answerOE
to sass back1862
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)]
answerOE
bitavelena1225
allayc1275
confoundc1384
concludea1400
conclusea1400
forblenda1400
gainsaya1400
rejag1402
to bear downc1405
redarguea1425
repugn?a1425
reverse?c1430
improvec1443
reprovea1513
dissolve1529
revince1529
convince1530
confute1533
refel1534
refute1545
void1570
evict1583
infringe1590
reprehend1597
revert1598
evince1608
repel1613
to take off1618
unbubblea1640
invalid1643
invalidate1649
remove1652
retund1653
effronta1657
dispute1659
unreason1661
have1680
demolish1691
to blow sky-high1819
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)] > by counter-charge
answerOE
returna1500
retort?1542
reject1553
recharge1566
contort?1567
invert1584
reband1588
recriminate1603
rebut1624
countercharge1626
occur1660
counterprove1679
OE Nativity of Virgin (Hatton) in B. Assmann Angelsächsische Homilien u. Heiligenleben (1889) 121 Ða andswarode heo hire ungeþwærlice and hire cwæð to:..hwæt sceal ic þæs don?
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2036 Ȝho mihhte modiȝlike onn ȝæn Anndswerenn þuss. & seggenn.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) 264 Þa onswerede þe an swiðe prudeliche to þe prude prince, ‘hei, hwuch wis read of so icudd keiser.’
a1350 (?c1225) King Horn (Harl.) (1901) 1074 Þe ȝateward..him onsuerede froward horn bed vn do wel softe moni tyme ant ofte ne myhte he ywynne forto come þer ynne.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 389 The proudeste of thise Riotours..Answerde agayn, what carl wt sory grace [printed gace] [etc.].
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 352 The porter answerde ungoodly agayne and sayde, ‘Thou gettyste no lodgynge here.’
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Titus ii. 9 The servauntes exhort..to please in all thynges, not answerynge agayne. [So 1611; a1425 Wycliffite, L.V. aȝenseiynge].
1591 H. Smith Preparatiue to Mariage 83 Although she be a Wife, yet sometime she must obserue the seruants lesson, Not answering againe, & hold her peace to keep the peace.
1644 T. Hooker Faithful Covenanter 26 Your untoward and rebellious heart be brought into subjection: And you servants, not answer your masters againe; And you little ones be not sturdy against your parents.
1708 W. Kennett Excellent Daughter 18 The Children in our Schools are wean'd from this Brutishness, are taught to hold their Peace and be still, not answering again for Strife, but giving soft Words to turn away Wrath.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. xiv. 305 I was angry and you were wrong—go about your work, and never answer a master that speaks to you in a passion.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel I. i. xiii. 86 Mrs Hazeldean, (observing Frank colouring, and about to reply.)—‘Hush, Frank, never answer your father.’
1885 W. H. White Mark Rutherford's Deliv. v. 87 The head messenger, who had been a butler, swore at him, and if Taylor had ‘answered’ he would have been reported.
1911 H. Belloc Girondin (1912) xvii. 284 When you have been in the career as long as I have, you will learn never to answer a superior.
1990 D. K. Chininga Come Karanda 8 You do not answer when your father speaks and that applies to me.
5.
a.
(a) transitive. To respond favourably to, or fulfil the desires expressed by (a prayer, petition, request, etc.); to respond favourably to, or fulfil the desires expressed by, the prayer, petition, request, etc., of (a person). Cf. sense 31.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)] > favourably
answerOE
OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xxxviii. 11 Drihten, gehyr min gebed, and mine healsunga; onfoh mid þinum earum minne wop and mine tearas; ne swuga wið me, ac andswara me mid þine fultume.
1564 H. Middlemore tr. Let. Frenche Gentilwoman sig. A.ii I dyd take my penne in hande to answere the request that so instantlye you made vnto me, to wrytte you a brief discourse of the maner & course of my Ladye the Princes of Condes sicknes.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xxvii. 7 Haue mercie also vpon mee, and answere me. View more context for this quotation
1650 E. Marbury Comm. Habakkuk (new ed.) (ii. 18–20) 336 God answered the Prayer of Solomon with a visible expressure of his Presence.
1673 J. Milton Psalm LXXXVI in Poems (new ed.) 159 Thou wilt..answer, what I pray'd.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxiv. 311 Humanely hear, and answer my demand.
1776 J. Wesley Let. 17 Apr. (1931) VI. 214 To be pleased when you give pleasure..proves that your mind was antecedently in a right state; and then God ‘answers you in the joy of your heart’.
a1799 J. Meikle Solitude Sweetened (1803) lii. 118 The audience-hour of the great King, when the court of Heaven receives and answers the petitions of the saints.
1851 R. C. Trench Poems 77 [God] had answered all her prayers With such an overmeasure of his grace.
1925 I. Gershwin Lady Luck in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 70/1 Lady Luck, listen to me! Lady Luck, answer my plea!
1994 Pop. Crafts Jan. 51/4 To all the kind ladies who answered my request for knitted lace patterns, thank you very much.
(b) intransitive. Of God or a god: to heed or fulfil the desires expressed by a person's prayer.
ΚΠ
1609 W. Cowper Three Heauenly Treat. Romanes i. 201 As long as Abraham prayed the Lord answered, and for euery petition hee yeelded something to Abraham.
1660 C. Hammond London's Triumphant Holiday 11 For by fervent prayer God answers many times by the same means, and the same time.
1670 T. Case Mt. Pisgah iii. 133 Pray and wait, wait, and wait patiently; and if the Lord answer not as soon as your souls could wish, know this, that you do not so much wait for God, as God for you.
1822 Methodist Mag. Mar. 101 On our return home, we stopped several times and had prayers, and the Lord answered.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Boadicea 22 The Gods have heard it, O Icenian!..Doubt not ye the Gods have answer'd.
1892 C. Box Elegies & Epitaphs ix. 145 Till Jesus, who for us endured the grief, Heard her meek prayer and answered with relief.
2003 B. Russell & R. Russell When God answers Prayer ii. v. 100 God had heard the couple's prayer and answered dramatically by guiding the yacht directly to them.
†b. transitive. To give or administer in response to petitioning. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > give in answer to request
answer1587
return1634
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 151/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II Hir maiesties principall and high courts, to answer the law to all sutors throughout the whole realme.
1592 Great Inconveniencies West Marches (P.R.O. SP 15/32) f. 66 The malifactors in that pte of the Scottish borders called Liddesdale are not answering anie redrest to her Mate subiects there, for..ffourteeene yeares last past... The poore subiects there, if they..complaine..are either..murdered, or their howses burned.
6. To write in reply to a letter, appeal, advertisement, or other communication requiring acknowledgement. Occasionally also: to reply to an advertisement, etc., in person, by telephone, or by some other means.Sometimes specifically to reply expressing disagreement: cf. sense 23.
a.
(a) intransitive. With to. To reply to a letter, etc.
ΚΠ
1399 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1399/1/7 That the schanceller sall ansuere til al his lettres.
1533 J. Frith (title) A Book..answering to M. More's Letter.
1574 T. Tymme tr. J. de Serres Three Partes Comm. Ciuill Warres Fraunce viii. 240 To this message by letter, the Admirall aunswered the. xxvi. of the same moneth.
1638 W. Barwick tr. V. D'Audiguier Love & Valour Table sig. a4v Vpon that shee had answered to his former Letter, how she was inforced to her griefe.
1739 E. A. Laval Compend. Hist. Reformation III. v. 61 The King answered to this Letter, and assured him that he had nothing more at heart than to do Justice to every one impartially.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 406 He answered to Sir Edward's letter, by a cold condolence on his great loss, but entered no farther on the interesting subject.
1874 W. Burns Sc. War of Independence I. vii. 122 He applied to the monks of Iona for a ‘holy man’ who might convert his subjects... The first teacher who answered to this invitation was named Cormac.
2008 G. J. Loizillon Bunau-Varilla Brothers & Panama Canal xx. 128 On October 17, after more than a year of procrastination, it answered to the Walker Commission's letter to offer a base for negotiation.
(b) intransitive. Without construction. To reply to a letter, etc.
ΚΠ
1658 tr. J. Ussher Ann. World 864 Caius seeming to be somewhat appeased by these letters, answers more mildly, and grants Agrippa as a great favour, that the Statue should not be dedicated.
1704 tr. D. F. Columbus Hist. Life & Actions C. Columbus in Coll. Voy. & Trav. II. 651/1 Roldan having received the Admiral's Letter, answered the third day, seeming to incline to do all he order'd him.
1831 M. W. Shelley Frankenstein (rev. ed.) xxii. 168 Do not let this letter disturb you; do not answer tomorrow, [1818 do not answer it to-morrow] or the next day, or even until you come.
1864 Telegr. Jrnl. 6 Feb. 70/1 Your No. 4 only reached me on Friday, or I would have answered sooner.
1895 Gleanings Bee Culture Oct. 732/1 The breeder of these queens wrote me a long letter, but requested me not to answer in Gleanings.
1914 C. Sherman Wise Son xxii. 310 He wrote, but she did not answer.
1961 A. Ginsberg Let. 21 Oct. (2008) 251 I get endless mail and still answer.
1995 New York 27 Nov. 61/3 I may write them a letter, but they may not answer and tell me why they did it.
b. transitive. With the letter, etc., as object. To reply to (a letter, etc.).
ΚΠ
a1474 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 136 (MED) He wrote to me a letter of unkyndnes, y trowe in hast, and so it was answerd, wherof me repented..for what cause therfor our letterz of unkyndnes were made.
1482 R. Cely Let. 3 Oct. in Cely Lett. (1975) 179 Syr, I send to yow Wylliam Mydwynttyrs letter clossyd in thys letter. I whotte not how to ansfor hyt.
1554 J. Proctor Hist. Wyates Rebellion f. 10 Rather to satisfie your importunitie, then to answer Wyates letter, whom in this case I disdaine to answere.
1606 G. Chapman Sir Gyles Goosecappe iv. sig. F3 Away with these same horse faire alligations, will you answere the letter?
1650 in Hamilton Papers (1880) 255 Evre since I came hether I have bine so narowly wached by the severe Christans that I could not answer your letter before now.
1678 J. Vernon Compl. Compting-house 114 To answer the Particulars of each Letter..To be always advising the true rising and falling of Commodities; The best Seasons to buy or sell in, [etc.].
1704 W. Nicolson London Diaries 12 Dec. (1985) 251 The Duke of Albemarl's Executors answered an Appeal by Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Mr Francis Nicolson, &c. concerning their Accounts in the Wreck-Adventure by Grant from the late King.
1747 A. P. Plain Disc. Trinity 31 Thus, Sir, I hope (according to your Desire) I have answered your Letter to me.
1800 Times 15 Apr. 1/2 It is particularly requested that no Place Broker, or any person of the like description, will answer this Advertisement.
1840 Legal Guide 11 Apr. 384/1 Although R. H. has answered my letter to you of the 21st ult. I do not consider myself justified in altering the opinion which I therein expressed.
1883 J. Fiske Let. 9 Jan. (1940) 481 All this in answer to your racy and offhand note of the 28th December to be answered instanter.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses 275 Answering an ad?..Yes, Mr Bloom said. Town traveller.
1955 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 197/1 It is good manners to answer an invitation promptly.
1997 Times 5 Mar. (Interface section) 3/4 After answering his e-mail, Herbert usually takes a ‘little surf’ in the web.
2010 M. Dunaway Baby in Boardroom xii. 147 He hadn't even answered her text message.
c. transitive. With the reply as object (as noun or pronoun, or indirect or (occasionally) direct speech); usually with to the letter, etc. To write, send, or give (a reply to a letter, etc.); to write, send, or give (a reply) to a letter, etc.
ΚΠ
1574 J. Studley tr. J. Bale Pageant of Popes vii. f. 194 Charles the Emperour and his brother Ferdinand on a time thoughte it meete to prepare an armye against the Turke, and wrote to the Pope to moue him therein: This Marcellus aunswered by his letter, that the armye should rather be addressed against the Lutherans.
1676 in Fountainhall's Decisions in M. P. Brown Suppl. Dict. Decisions Court of Session (1826) III. 87 But it was answered to the letter, That there could be nothing produced more convincing that the former paper insisted on did not concern Waughton.
1693 W. Wotton tr. L. E. Du Pin New Hist. Eccl. Writers III. 120 This is, saith he, what may be answered to your Letter in a few words.
1762 Gen. Hist. Sieges & Battles III. 196 To this letter the emperor answered, that he was resolved never to prefer Alaric or any of his people.
1826 Prop. Lawyer 3 78 To this letter his Majesty answered that he would not endure to have the high powers and prerogatives of his crown wounded.
1871 E. C. G. Murray Member for Paris III. ii. 35 Oh but, Horace, you will answer Yes to this letter, won't you?
1915 T. Čapek Bohemia under Hapsburg Misrule i. 60 ‘God prevent,’ answered Šafařík to Pogodin's letter.
2009 A. Sairio in A. Nurmi et al. Lang. Daily Life in Eng. (1400–1800) 114 Montagu answered to her letter that [etc.].
7. intransitive. With to. To reply or respond when addressed by (a name); (in extended use) to have the name of, be called. Often in to answer to the name of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > give a name [verb (intransitive)] > be named
answer1523
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell sig. Bii There shal he here what she wyl to hym say when he is callid to answere to his name.
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. E.viii Per frendship canst thou answere to so burthenouse a name?
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. iv. 73 I answer to that name, what is your will? View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) v. i. 12 Coriolanus He would not answer too: Forbad all Names. View more context for this quotation
a1706 Evelyn's Silva (1729) ii. iv. 135 After all these Exotics brought from our Plantations, answering to the Name of Cedar, I should esteem that of the Vermuda, little inferior, if not superior, to the noblest Libanon.
1737 J. Miller Universal Passion v. ii. 72 Proth. Which is Lady Liberia in this Company, pray Sirs? Lib. I answer to that Name. Your Will and Pleasure, sweet Lord Protheus?
1758 S. Johnson Idler 1 July 97 A Spaniel..that answers to the name of Ranger.
1781 W. Cowper Let. 24 June (1979) I. 491 The delay has enabled me to add a piece of considerable length which but for the delay would not have made its appearance upon this Occasion. It answers to the name of Hope.
1833 Dublin Univ. Mag. Apr. 375/1 ‘No other man in Burlington answers to that sir-name but myself,’ said Smallcraft, bowing low.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 96 The barrel on which the driving cord in turret clocks is wound also answers to the name of drum.
1907 J. C. Lincoln Old Home House 215 One of the boarders..bagged a contraption which answered to the name of a ‘ginuwine Sheriton davenport’.
1980 J. D. Uebelhoer in G. J. Kaufman & M. K. Blakely Pulling our own Strings 115 We would be glad to offer seminars to help males become adept at the work in clerical positions. We could teach them how to type and how to answer to ‘girl’ or ‘honey’ or ‘hey, you’.
2001 A. Sayle Dog Catcher 13 A male Doberman answering to the name of ‘Azul’.
8. To reply to a question in a lesson, examination, or test, or (outside a learning environment) in a quiz, etc.; to provide the solution to a verbal puzzle or clue, a mathematical problem, or any problem expressible in the form of a question. Also: to perform the exercises or questions set in an examination paper; (later) to reply to the questions in a questionnaire, survey, etc., or to provide the solution to (the clues in) a crossword or other puzzle.
a.
(a) intransitive. With to. To provide an answer to a question in an examination, test, quiz, etc.; to provide a set of answers to an examination, test, etc. Now relatively rare.
ΚΠ
1531 St. German's Fyrste Dyaloge in Englysshe (new ed.) xxv. f. lvv Sythe I haue answeryd to thy questyon.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Confirmacion f. ix* Can also aunswere to suche questions of this shorte Cathechisme.
1772 W. Dale Calculations deduced from First Princ. 254 It has been answered, to the question, What annuity doth each age purchase?..by comparing, which, the answer to this question is known [etc.].
1821 Guardian Mar. 104 Each pupil was required to answer promptly to his set lesson, and no more.
1838 W. Fisk Trav. Continent of Europe xxxi. 622 If the student is present to answer to eight examinations, held at the commencement of the term, he may be anywhere the rest of the time without detriment to his degree.
1906 New Cent. Path 12 Aug. 4/2 They have known of pupils who have splendidly answered to these tests, and in after life never showed one spark of genius.
2005 T. C. Sharma Reading Probl. Learners ix. 195 The reading specialist or classroom teacher should determine whether a student would be able to answer to questions without reading the selection.
(b) intransitive. Without construction. To provide an answer to a question in an examination, test, quiz, etc.; to provide a set of answers to an examination, test, survey, etc.
ΚΠ
1742 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. To Answer..to solve a Proposition or Question in Arithmetick or Geometry, &c. by declaring what the Amount is.
1772 Scots Mag. Feb. 87/1 After the candidates have answered to the satisfaction of the professors and pastors, both in respect to the scriptures and ecclesiastical history, [etc.].
1856 M. Townsend Ann. Indian Admin. I. 48 The third and fourth year's students answered well in Dynamics and the Elements of the Differential Calculus.
1898 Trans. 42nd Session Amer. Inst. Homœopathy 125 Other students who were apparently dull in study and slow to answer at the quiz and in the ‘green-room’?
a1914 C. S. Peirce Coll. Papers (1958) VII. 15 The rule for finding this ratio is as follows:..In all these cases, of course, we shall answer correctly, and also by chance in one-half of the remaining cases.
1975 R. M. Price Society & Bureaucracy in Contemp. Ghana v. 115 Approximately 45 percent of those student respondents who answered felt that going directly to the government office would be the least effective means of getting either routine or urgent business accomplished at government offices in Ghana.
2005 A. R. Taylor Future in Process of Arrival viii. 98 Students answered on paper copy that was later scanned into corresponding files.
b.
(a) transitive. With an individual question, etc., as object. To reply to (a question in an examination, test, quiz, survey, etc.); to provide a solution to (a verbal puzzle, mathematical problem, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)] > solve
soil1382
solve?1541
resolve1577
answer1579
1579 W. Fulke Refut. Rastels Confut. in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 778 He could not answer the ridle propounded vnto him by his aduersarie.
1640 Lively Portrayture Arch-bishops xiii. 30 If of any degree in Schooles, if they can answer some few questions in Latine, and can speake upon some text.
1708 tr. J. Ozanam Recreations Math. & Physical 55 But an easier Way to answer the Problem is this: Bid the Person that thinks, take from the Double of the Number thought of, any even Number you will that is less, [etc.].
1772 Brit. Palladium No. 24. 45 Mr William Taylor..answered it correctly by Fluxions.
1821 R. Ryan Biogr. Hibernica II. 352 The following inscription is fixed in gold letters over one of the hall doors, in Oxford University..for answering a mathematical problem, sent from Paris, which could not be resolved by any other person in Great Britain.
1871 Sunday School Teacher 4 189 Answer (A) or (B), not both.
1915 Proc. Amer. Electric Railway Accountants' Assoc. 14 It was also suggested that the marks on each subject be explained; i. e., that the student be shown wherein he fails to properly answer the quiz questions.
1936 S. Glasstone Recent Adv. Gen. Chem. v. 224 The structure of nickel carbonyl, Ni(CO)4, presents an interesting problem which has been answered by the application of electron-diffraction methods.
2011 S. Baker Final Jeopardy vi. 133 If it [sc. a machine]..answered the clue, and got to pick another one, it could assume that it had been right.
(b) transitive. With an examination paper, etc., as object. To provide a set of answers to (an examination paper, test, survey, etc.); to provide solutions to (a crossword puzzle, etc.).
ΚΠ
1832 Minutes of Evid. Select Comm. Affairs E. India Company IV. 30 in Parl. Papers 1831–2 (H.C. 735-IV) XII. 1 Do you mean to say, that if..the candidate were to be left to find that qualification where he could, so that he answered the test, that every purpose would be fulfilled?
1841 J. Bacot & S. L. Hammick Let. 18 Dec. in Minutes Senate Univ. London (1842) 46 A Candidate has three hours to answer in writing each set of papers.
1868 M. Pattison Suggestions Acad. Organisation 294 The student himself will tell you that he answered such a paper ‘out of Grote,’ and such another ‘out of Maine’ or ‘Austin’.
1878 Trans. Texas State Med. Assoc. 113 This is certainly a meagre showing from the great State of Texas, with..two thousand five hundred physicians, only fifty-four able to answer the quiz.
1899 S. I. Franz On After-images i. iv. 32 Of the subjects who answered the questionnaire, 59% would be considered as of a distinct visual type.
1937 A. J. Cronin Citadel (1978) ix. 145 He found himself answering the papers with a blind automatism. He wrote and wrote.
1988 D. Barthel Putting on Appearances iv. 67 An unattractive woman for Blass is one smart enough to answer the crossword without hesitation.
2010 M. Haines Born into Fire vii. 70 While I was trying to answer the exam question papers I was in so much agony that I could hardly write.
** Contexts involving a non-verbal response to a sound or sign.
9. To make a sound in response to another or its source; to return an echo.
a. intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > resound [verb (intransitive)] > reverberate or echo
aqueathOE
again-sounda1382
replya1393
answera1425
rolla1522
rebellow1590
re-echo1590
redouble1595
surrebound?1611
speaka1616
rethunder1716
reverb1796
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > resound [verb (transitive)] > reverberate or echo
answera1425
redoublea1542
rebound1555
return1557
reply1565
report1589
re-echo1595
repercuss?a1597
render1598
reverberate1603
respeak1604
reverb1608
retort1609
reword1609
revoice1610
refract1621
to give back1889
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) iii. 104 When ony of þe berners or þe lymmer here a man blowe for hem, þei shulde answere blowynge in þis wyse with hir horne: trut, trut, trot.
1589 J. Lea tr. D. F. R. de M. Answer Vntruthes 47 The Spanyards come then, saieng, fire, the Eccho answers in Englishmen, fire; Spanyards say bloud, Englishmen saie bloud.
1633 G. Wither Iwenilia 345 Such a note that none should dare to trouble it, Till the hills answer, and the woods redouble it.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 862 With other echo late I taught your Shades To answer . View more context for this quotation
1709 A. Pope Summer in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. vi. 732 The Woods shall answer, and their Echo ring.
a1783 H. Brooke Poet. Wks. (1792) I. 430 Now in joint harmony they pour their notes, And Echo answers from ten thousand throats.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan III. xxix. 91 The green vallies echoed, and all the green hills (answering aloud, with one perpetual roar of deep, heavy thunder) appeared..to smoke with unhallowed fire.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess Prol. 4 Echo answer'd in her sleep From hollow fields.
1863 A. C. L. Waterston Verses 31 The trumpet lent its blast of might; The flute and viol answered low.
1907 J. Joyce Chamber Mus. iii The night wind answering in antiphon Till night is overgone.
2001 S. Gentling & S. Gentling Of Birds & Texas 126/2 He began to use his wooden goose call, making a high-pitched ‘ee-ee, ee-ee, ee-ee’. The geese answered back.
b. transitive.
ΚΠ
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 2193 The holwe rokkis answerden hire a-gayn.
c1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Tiber.) 22417 Flateryng Is engendered off lesyng; Somme callen hir Placebo, ffor sche kan maken an Eccho, Answere euere ageyn the same.
1569 T. Stocker tr. Plutarch Life of Demetre xi, in tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Successors Alexander iv. f. 158v The Gallie sclaues, with so great consonance haled their ores, that they aunswered Xenophante his song: and al with one voyce, made dolorons and lamentable noyse.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. xii. sig. Aa3 The rolling sea resounding soft, In his big base them fitly answered.
a1691 P. Skippon Acct. Journey Low-Countries in Churchill's Coll. Voy. (1732) VI. 506/2 Before the curtain was drawn up, a trumpet sounded, and a violin answered it very well.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Nightingale in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 59 They answer and provoke each other's song, With skirmish and capricious passagings.
1826 Q. Mus. Mag. & Rev. 8 482 The subject is given, inverted by the first violin, answered in its proper intervals by the violoncello.
1879 Scribner's Monthly July 391/2 The whip-poor-wills were repeating their plaintive songs, and the tree-toads were answering them in a harsh, wild cry.
1915 Labor Digest Jan. 23/1 Our fingers close on the triggers; our spurs have sunk to the flanks; The echoing hills have answered back the shock of our charging ranks.
1964 N. K. Cruickshank tr. J. R. von Salis Rainer Maria Rilke 289 It is impossible to conceive the extent of the echo which answered that death knell from a remote little mountain church.
1998 P. O'Brian Hundred Days (1999) vii. 197 A very small-eared owl..uttered its modest song, ‘Tyu, tyu’, answered almost at once by another, a quarter of a mile away. ‘Tyu, tyu.’
10. To respond to a sound demanding attention or action, as to a knock at a door, etc., by opening it or to a bell by going to where it was rung.In some instances a verbal response may be intended.
a. intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [verb (intransitive)] > with action > in response to a signal
answera1492
a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) ii. f. cciiv/2 They went to all the chambres of the .xi. with the sayd abbot and knocked att euery dore, but there answered no body.
1531 G. Joye tr. Prophete Isaye lxv. sig. P.v When I called you, ye wolde not answer, & when I spake, ye wolde not hear.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 i. i. 6 Knocke but at the gate, And he himselfe will answer . View more context for this quotation
1662 H. Hibbert Body Divinity i. 278 Not to answer when called, is incivility in most, and it is undutifulness in some.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 59 They knock'd at the Door..but no body answered.
1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs viii, in Poems 12 His flunkies answer at the bell.
1825 C. E. Cary Mem. I. 388 I rang the bell, the same servant answered. I bade him go and take the first lodging he could meet for a week.
1898 F. Forbes-Robertson Potentate viii. 87 He knocked quietly, and called under his breath. No one answered. The door was locked.
1918 Rep. Director Nat. Park Service (U.S. Dept. Interior) 181 The ranger force has answered to 11 fire calls this year.
1981 S. McAughtry Belfast Stories i. 28 ‘Away round to the side door,’ he says, ‘knock and explain to Gerry's wife when she answers.’
2005 W. Wall This is Country 63 I hear knocking and I hear my mother answer.
b. transitive. With the sound or the door, etc., as object.See also sense 17.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)] > in response to a signal
answer1590
get1927
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. viii. 105 He marched forth towardes that castle wall; Whose gates he fownd fast shutt, ne liuing wight To warde the same, nor answere commers call.
1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple i. xlvi. 66 Such was the House, so furnisht was the Hall, Whence the fourth Fury, answer'd Pluto's call.
1761 Universal Mag. Apr. 212/1 He said he would come down, and answer the door, which he accordingly did.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xiv. 206 The solitary clerk no longer found time to answer the often agitated bell.
1844 J. H. Ingraham Ellen Hart x. 32 Before Ellen could leave her piano stool to answer it, the door opened and in walked the two administrators.
1862 Mrs. H. Wood Channings II. 349 He answers all the rings at the yard bell.
1899 J. R. Skinner Hist. Fourth Illinois Volunteers 26 Answered the familiar call of ‘soupy, soupy, soupy,’ at 5:30 o'clock.
1921 Glasgow Herald 4 Feb. 9 Shortly after two o'clock she was called, but did not answer her call-sign.
1987 Boxing News 21 Aug. 7/4 I concentrated on body shots after knocking him down in the ninth with a hook to the body—and he didn't answer the bell for the 11th.
2006 N. Govinden Graffiti my Soul (2008) 135 Whilst Mum went to answer the door, I left them on the corner of the table.
11. To make a sign of any kind in response to, or acknowledgement of, a signal or a person giving a signal. Also: to make a non-verbal response to a question, remark, etc., or to a person making one.
a. transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)] > with a sign
answer1567
1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. ix. f. 190 Yf sometime I seeke to force a mocion in hym, with indeuour to gyue lyfe to his dead sprites, I am aunswered with hollow groanes, and excuses of age.
1640 R. Brathwait Ar't Asleepe Husband? 138 To answer Salutes with the like.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. iv. 149 If it had been thought of, to have answer'd her Signal by the usual countersign [the Gally] had infallibly been taken.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 182. ⁋12 He sometimes presumed to mention Marriage; but was always answered with a Hoot, and a Flounce.
1779 P. Landais Let. in B. Franklin Papers (1995) XXXI. 158 He very seldom answerd any Signal because he had but a very large & heavy St. George Colour.
1805 E. Berry in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. 117 At daylight I made the Private Signal which was not answered.
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 9 Cutters are used as despatch boats and for light work, such as answering signals.
1921 D. F. Fox Vindic. R. Creighton vii. 74 Again the light came, and the sailor, awaiting its reappearance, answered it with a flashlight—a rocket of distress—another, and still another.
1973 C. N. Parkinson Devil to Pay (2001) ii. vii. 100 Delancey lighted flare after flare... At last he was answered by another flare to the north.
2006 A. B. Feuer Packs On! ii. 14 For recognition purposes in fog or darkness, a colored blinker system using flashlights is very effective. However, the sequence of colors must be prearranged—such as a red signal answered by a green one.
b. intransitive.
ΚΠ
1572 R. Harrison tr. L. Lavater Of Ghostes viii. 39 To al the which points, he [sc. a spirit] answered by signes as he was commaunded.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 167 To these exceptions hee answered with a Spanish shrug of the shouldier.
1736 J. Morgan tr. J. B. de la Faye Several voyages to Barbary (ed. 2) 10 The Salute was of twenty-two Guns, whereto his Majesty's Ship answered with twenty-one.
1792 J. Wolcot Ode to Burke in Wks. (1812) III. 38 Then the Dame will answer with a dip.
1868 tr. I. Turgenev Smoke I. iv. 51 He answered by a kind of grunt, a turn of the eye, or by words without sense or connection.
1906 A. Brown County Road 205 The next morning, after breakfast, William looked remindingly at Ellen, and she answered by a confirming nod.
2002 J. McGahern That they may face Rising Sun (2003) 99 She answered with a ritualistically disapproving gesture.
*** Extended senses, chiefly involving response by and to an action.
12. transitive. To return the hostile action of (a person or force), to meet (an opponent) in battle or a fight. Now archaic. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > holding out or making stand > hold [verb (transitive)] > resist
outholda1460
answer1468
receive1477
resist1533
out-ward1596
oppugn1636
1468 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 539 My lord the Bastard took vpon hym to answere xxiiij knytys and gentylmen..at jostys of pese.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 127 Or hit auntrid hym to aunsware Ector agayne.
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 155/1 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II His Gallowglasses were good men to incounter with Gallowglasses, and not to answer old souldiers.
1676 W. Dugdale Baronage Eng. II. 130/2 He, with the King himself, the Duke of Suffolk, and Nicholas Carew Esquire, answered all comers.
1785 Rom. Stories (new ed.) 115 He was now ready to answer him in single combat, if he insisted upon his accusation.
1841 T. P. Thompson Exercises (1842) 29 Apr. 315 As at the Tournament which unfavouring heavens so ruthlessly washed away, knight was to have answered knight in frightful combat with sawed lances, [etc.].
1892 J. Skipsey Songs & Lyrics 162 There Lumley bold to Lambton shows A front that almost threatens blows; And Lambton up the valley throws A look at him, With which her lords once answered foes In battle grim.
2001 J. Dent-Young & A. Dent-Young tr. Shi Nai'an & Luo Guanzhong Gathering Company l. 133 If there is anyone among you who thinks he's good, let him answer me in single combat!
13.
a. transitive. To obey (a law, command, summons, etc.); to act in conformity with (an indication of will or law, or †of fact).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > obey or be obedient to [verb (transitive)] > act in conformity to a rule or decree
to stand at ——c1300
to stand to ——c1300
usec1300
keep1387
abidea1393
obeya1393
stand?1435
answer1552
trace1649
society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (intransitive)] > be steered > admit of being steered (well or ill)
answer1552
steer1627
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Puttynge or layinge in of a cawtion, gauge, pledge, or suretye to answere [1572 aunswere] the law. Restipulatio.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 191 I come To answer thy best pleasure. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 30 Bridle in thy headlong wave Till thou our summons answerd have.
1708 J. Keill Acct. Animal Secretion p. xx That the Indications..are right, or such as if answered, would cure the Disease.
1757 P. Bacon Insignificants v. i. 60 I Think I have duly answered all the orders—and every thing's carried to the hall, that we shall have occasion for.
1821 5th Rep. Amer. Bible Soc. 169 They have not only answered our orders for Bibles promptly, but they have furnished us with many publications, suited to diffuse information on this subject.
1886 A. Keary Castle Daly (new ed.) ix. 106 A dull, empty echo came back from the wide hall and staircase when Annie knocked. The maid that answered her summons informed her that Mr. Thornley was out.
1958 Jet 28 Aug. 24 A 22-year-old Detroit mother..who answered the command of voices saying ‘jump into the river’, then tucked her three-year-old son under her arm and leaped, was adjudged insane.
1995 L. Banning in D. T. Konig Devising Liberty i. 42 Hamilton's design for national greatness may have been complete in its essentials when as secretary of the Treasury he answered Congress's instructions to submit a plan for managing the revolutionary debt.
b. intransitive. With to. To respond to, obey.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [verb (intransitive)] > sympathetically
correspond1632
answer1639
the world > action or operation > operation upon something > exert operative influence [verb (intransitive)] > be affected by > and act in sympathy
answer1639
consent1732
1639 R. Ward Animadversions of Warre i. vii. lviii. 169 Their backwardnesse and unwillingnesse in answering to the commands of Authority, and many times some of them are altogether deficient both in their Armes and appearance.
1650 T. Bayly Herba Parietis i. 1 Two yeeres the Capitoll ecchoed to the Gottish Drummes, before it answered to the word Yeeld.
1736 J. Gill Cause God & Truth II. iv. 179 He became active, came forth, and answered to the word of command.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian III. vii. 219 Schedoni answered to the summons. He came forward with a firm step, and..awaited in silence its commands.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist (1855) xxviii. 138/2 The dogs..readily answered to the command.
1881 Edinb. Med. Jrnl. 26 ii. 666 It was evident that the bluish comedos here answered to Goethe's law..that ‘semi -opaque..media appear reddish-yellow by transmitted, bluish by reflected light’.
1921 R. Dane Sport in Asia & Afr. iii. 51 A creeper caught me round the throat, and nearly pulled me off the elephant; but I managed to shout, and Nellie answered beautifully to an order from the mahout to halt.
1991 B. Lumley Sorcery in Shad (2006) v. 105 Tarra fed his beast; he played ‘work and reward’ games with the huge creature, using greenstuff tidbits as prizes when the lizard ‘understood’ his gestures and whistles and answered promptly to his instructions.
14. transitive. (See also sense 16a.)
a. To give back, feel, or do something in response to (an action by another party, etc.); to return, reciprocate (something) with a response.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > give [verb (transitive)] > give in return
yield971
quita1400
gain-yield1435
render1477
answer1565
regive1575
return1584
to give backa1586
redound1597
retort1602
re-render1628
remete1647
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) l. 391 Ac ðonne ðæt mennisce mod Godes glædmodnesse mid godum weorcum ne geandsworað, ðonne bið he swiðe ryhtlice mid ðæm gehined ðe mon wenð ðæt he mid gearod sie.]
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare i. 6 I wil not answeare heate with heate, but in such kinde of eloquence wil rather geue place.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 204 They be so ready,..not to aunswere, but to offer, force and violence, euen to Kings and Princes.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. i. sig. N Well did the Squire perceiue him selfe too weake, To aunswere his defiaunce in the field. View more context for this quotation
1601 W. Cornwallis Disc. Seneca sig. D5 Able to answere feast with feast.
1658 J. Caryl Expos. 18th–21st Chapters Job (new ed.) 667 When the musicke sounded they answered it with the motion of their bodyes.
1707 G. Stanhope tr. P. Charron Of Wisdom (ed. 2) III. ii. 19 For one Trick may be answered with another; and it is reasonable to play the Fox with a Fox.
1760 G. Sale et al. in Mod. Part Universal Hist. XVIII. 353 His salute and demand were forthwith answered with a real cannon shot.
1790 W. Bligh Narr. Mutiny on Bounty 3 Every endeavour on my part was answered with threats of death.
1793 T. Holcroft tr. J. C. Lavater Ess. Physiognomy (abridged ed.) xxxi. 163 To answer wit with reason is like endeavouring to hold an eel by the tail.
1827 J. Keble Christian Year II. lxxiv. 90 Answering love for love.
1849 Buchanan's Jrnl. Man Aug. 350 Even those who were formerly for the Pope, now deem it just and honorable to answer war with war.
1922 P. N. Miliukov Russia To-day & To-morrow ii. 38 They answered his attempts to lead them against the enemy with a disgraceful retreat.
1999 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 6 Dec. 52/5 The Jets (4-8) were in the game at 17-7, following a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ray Lucas to Keyshawn Johnson, but the Giants answered with a touchdown on their next possession. Game, set, match.
2008 C. V. Stringer & L. Tucker Standing Tall xvii. 282 It takes a great deal of fortitude to answer hate with compassion.
b. Of an action, emotion, etc.: to occur or be given in response to; to repay, be a suitable response to.Frequently with the same word as both subject and object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > repeating > repeat (an action) [verb (transitive)]
renovela1325
reiterate?a1425
replicate?a1425
repeat?1440
iter1530
iterate?1548
redouble1580
redo1598
second1610
answer1613
renewa1616
ingeminate1625
reiter1634
double1645
reperform1651
rename1665
rehandle1697
retracta1699
rehearse1700
re-enact1819
1613 T. Heywood Brazen Age ii. sig. H3 Loue answers loue, desire with ardor meetes, Both which this night shall tast a thousand sweetes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iv. 0. 8 Fire answers fire. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 407 Haste still paies haste, and leasure, answers leasure. View more context for this quotation
1675 E. Sherburne in tr. M. Manilius Sphere 38 Signs by certain Stars to represent, Whose Lights design their shapes; fire answers fire, Mean to Extream, the Lower to the Higher.
1720 J. Gay Dione iii. iii, in Poems (1926) 394 There ev'ry gale with warbling musick floats, Shade answers shade, and breaths alternate notes.
1837 W. H. Maxwell Bivouac I. vii. 160 In front, far as the eye could range, the French and English cantonments might be traced, as ‘fire answered fire’.
1876 Ld. Tennyson Harold v. i. 145 Our javelins Answer their arrows.
1896 H. H. Hay Trumpets & Shawms 156 Death answers death, as wheeling guns Like throttling bloodhounds leap.
1908 tr. A. Dumas Crimes Ali Pacha 179 Sword answered sword, the blades crossed, and at the end of a few instants the marquis fell.
1991 E. Lefevere tr. W. Von Eschenbach Parzifal x. 141 When love answers love, pure and without tarnish..that love is exalted above all others.
15. To respond to an external agency or force, esp. a controlling device; to be moved, steered, or guided by a thing or person. Also in figurative contexts.
a.
(a) transitive. Of an animal, esp. a horse.
ΚΠ
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xi. sig. Oo8 They..making their horses answer their hands, with a gentle galop, set the one toward the other.
1636 T. Grymes Honest & Plaine Dealing Farier sig. C2v It will heale them, and make the horse grow, and after this, he will answer the spur better for ever.
1692 W. Hope Compl. Fencing-master (ed. 2) 122 A well mouthed horse, that will answer your Bridle-Hand and spurres.
1735 Sportsman's Dict. II Reposte, is the vindictive motion of a horse, that answers the spur with a kick of his foot.
1776 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 13 Apr. (1778) We have not two horses so handy with Whip-reins as the two oxen which worked to-day: and what is remarkable, they answer the Whip-rein better than the whale-bone whip.
1796 W. C. Oulton Hist. Theatres London II. 58 This Exhibition, which was got up in a great hurry, answered the spur of the occasion.
1831 New Sporting Mag. Aug. 276 None who saw him can forget how gallantly he answered the whip, springing forward like a tiger.
1887 A. M. Trotter Bledisloe viii. 93 His horse swerved, and answered the cruel spur by rearing and plunging.
2002 R. Hobb Fool's Errand xiv. 315 Once I was up, she answered the reins and my knees, but sloppily.
(b) transitive. Of a thing, esp. a ship or vehicle; often in to answer to the (also her) helm.
ΚΠ
1613 B. Rich Excellency Good Women 10 It is the property of a good ship to answere her Helme readily and not to bee heard of stirreage but to feele the Routher quickly and thereby to be turned, ruled and directed in the course that she should hould.
1751 R. Paltock Life Peter Wilkins I. viii. 74 What we had taken for Land, was a Rock of an extraordinary Height, to which, as we advanced nearer, the Ship increased its Motion; and all our Strength could not make her answer her Rudder any other Way.
1765 London Mag. Aug. 410/1 In the position I stood, I saw that the ship answered her helm, as I had cunned her, and as fast as I wanted.
1837 Gambler's Dream I. ii. 130 She will answer her wheel as true and as free as the mouth of an Arabian horse.
1865 Times 19 Dec. 10/2 The ship was quick in answering her helm, and her steering arrangements are excellent.
1886 Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Aug. 147 The two stout men had their hands upon the iron frame, giving it a gentle impulse, which it quickly answered, toward the narrow doorway leading to the furnace.
1911 W. McCay In Land of Wonderful Dreams 29 Oct. in Little Nemo 1905–1914 (2000) 319/1 I do not know whether my rudder fails to answer me or if I am in an air pocket!
1948 S. M. Loring in D. Samson Teen-age Aviation Stories 179 Metal clanged harshly against the fuselage but the plane answered the controls and he bored in, his own guns lashing the big ship's bridge.
1990 J. McPhee Looking for Ship 222 With more ship and the same rudder, she probably does not answer the helm as quickly as she did when she was smaller.
b.
(a) intransitive. With to. Of an animal, esp. a horse, or a person.
ΚΠ
1658 T. Bancroft Time's out of Tune xiv. 96 Dull beasts do meerly stir As Nature bids, and answer to her spur.
1771 R. Berenger Hist. & Art Horsemanship II. vi. 51 Your horse answering to the reins which you shake, will move perhaps only one of his fore-feet, leaving the other advanced.
1852 W. Hazlitt Hazlitt's Life Napoleon Buonaparte I. xvi. 92 He vaulted into the empty seat of government as a wild Arab throws himself on the back of a horse without a rider, ‘to turn and wind a fiery Pegasus’, that answers both to the bit and the spur.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. i. 2 The girl instantly answered to the action in her sculling.
1868 F. Bunsen Mem. Baron Bunsen II. xx. 394 The hand, of which she took hold, answered not to the touch as usual with a strong grasp.
1891 A. Wanless Sketches & Anecd. 68 These wandering thoughts, however, soon answered to the bridle when I saw approaching me a beautiful pair of lovers.
1904 L. Abbott Great Compan. xi. 148 Surely Mary and Martha did not keep alive the memory of that sad hour when Lazarus closed his eyes in death, and answered no more to their caresses.
1938 Z. Grey Raiders Spanish Peaks xiii. 264 The big rangy sorrel answered to spur.
1996 L. E. Modesitt Death of Chaos (new ed.) iii. 20 Gairloch answered easily to gentle pressure on the hackamore.
(b) intransitive. With to. Of a thing, esp. a ship or vehicle; often in to answer to the (also her) helm.
ΚΠ
1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 6 The former immediately answer to the least change of the Air.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 57 The Glebe will answer to the Sylvan Reign, Great Heats will follow, and large Crops of Grain. View more context for this quotation
1772 Chinese Traveller II. 131 The beak and neck is joined to the body of the animal by a concealed hinge, in order that it may easily play and answer to the least motion of the head.
1821 J. Howison Sketches Upper Canada iv. 48 Her length is so great, that she answers very slowly to the helm.
1854 J. W. Moore Compl. Encycl. Mus. 283/1 After many trials he produced, in 1808, a new kind of grand piano, in which the action answered more promptly to the touch.
1879 E. E. Frewer tr. J. Verne Dick Sands viii. 82 The finback was obviously bent on a third onslaught upon the boat, which, being in spite of all the men's exertions still more than half full of water, no longer answered readily to the rudder-oar.
1907 Commerc. Motor 20 June 382/1 We know of no other steam or petrol lorry, of such weight, that answers so quickly to the wheel with so little effort.
1922 E. R. Burroughs Chessmen of Mars (2007) vii. 121 The ship answered perfectly to the controls which regulated her altitude.
1995 J. T. de Kay Chron. Frigate Macedonian 206 She sailed sluggishly, due to the excess weight of Antarctic stiffening in her hull, but answered smoothly enough to her helm.
16. Military, Navy, etc. To respond to an attack by a counter-attack or defensive action; to return fire in response to fire. Frequently with the response.
a. transitive.
ΚΠ
1645 J. Rushworth True Relation Fight at Torrington 7 The Enemy received the charge, and answered it with a very sharp volley of shot.
1684 E. Phillips in Baker's Chron. Kings of Eng. (new ed.) 478/2 In the mean time my Lord of Essex caused three pieces of Cannon to be fired upon the King's Army, which was answered from the King with the like Number, and then the Battle began.
1698 T. Froger Rel. Voy. Coasts Afr. in Coll. Voy. & Trav. (1745) II. 593/1 A freebooter of St. Domingo..came to cast anchor before us, and, having saluted us with three cannon-shot, we answered her with one.
1872 A. Stephenson & H. Stephenson tr. Marquis de Beauvoir Pekin, Jeddo & San Francisco xiv. 281 The cazadores, sent out as skirmishers under cover of the walls which skirt the road, answered fire, and advancing, dislodged the infantry.
1917 H. Vivian Italy at War ii. xvii. 154 As we answered their machine-guns with ours, their men indicated our positions with black and yellow flags.
1974 R. L. Bonachea & M. San Martín Cuban Insurrection (1995) v. 88 Some of the men at first answered the army's attack, firing at random, and trying to gain cover as best they could.
2007 C. Feehan Safe Harbor 340 More gunfire burst out on the deck, this time a volley answered by another volley.
b. intransitive.
ΚΠ
1744 J. Mottley Hist. Life & Reign Empress Catharine II. i. 41 The Arch-bishop blesses the Water, which Function is performed under the Discharge of all the Artillery, answered to by many Salvo's of the Musketeers.
1823 J. Mitchell Dict. Universal Hist. 62/1 The action was peculiarly severe, the Americans having raised a fortification on the above hill, which answered to the fire from the British vessels.
1877 Guernsey Mag. June The guns of the Imperial Mole answered to the guns of the ships, and in the course of an hour the French steamer Vauban was set on fire by red-hot shot.
1919 Bolshevik Propaganda (U.S. Congr. Senate Comm. Judiciary) 824 In some instances they surrendered. In some they began shooting at once, and when they did the soviet forces answered with machine gun and cannon.
2011 M. Berg Pop. Justice vii. 157 When some of the men returned the fire, Cate's deputies answered with a volley sufficiently intimidating to disperse the mob.
17. transitive. To take a call on (a telephone), to respond to (a ringing telephone) by accepting the call; to respond to or accept (an incoming telephone call) in this way. Also intransitive.Occasionally without the implication that the person receiving the call speaks: cf. sense 10.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > communicate with by telephone [verb (transitive)] > answer a telephone call
answer1880
take1899
1880 Camden (Indiana) Expositor 27 May There is no waste time that worries a man half so much as the few seconds he spends waiting for Central to answer the telephone.
1881 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 10 Sept. 5/2 Being called up three or four times to answer telephone calls is not pleasant.
1909 Brandon (Manitoba) Weekly Sun 11 Feb. 5/5 Some people answer the phone by giving their name.
1910 Pearson's Mag. Dec. 831/2 He..hung up the receiver with a muttered word about ‘wrong number’. Yet, when the call sounded again, after a brief interval, he answered.
1948 C. Rice Big Midget Murders viii. 65 He had a coupla calls around three and didn't answer the phone.
1985 S. Flannery Broken Idols iii. 39 Sidney had tried to telephone him a short time later, but he had either already parked his car, or had been prevented from answering his mobile phone.
2010 Telegram & Gaz. (Mass.) (Nexis) 9 Apr. 6 I called my mother's cell phone. Someone answered, but disconnected right away.
2012 New Yorker 26 Nov. 30/1 Answering the phone with ‘Yo!’, rather than the standard greeting mandated by the company manual.
II. Senses involving some degree of opposition, challenge, assertiveness, or commitment, in response to a charge, accusation, claim, demand, etc.
* Senses relating to response to, or the result, of a charge, accusation, criticism, etc.
18.
a. To speak or write in reply or opposition to a charge or accusation; to make a rebutting statement; to defend or justify oneself verbally. Also in figurative contexts.
(a) intransitive. Without explicit specification of the charge or accusation; usually with adverbial phrase of manner or place. Cf. to answer over at Phrasal verbs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > oppose in argument, refute [verb (intransitive)]
answerOE
refel1572
refute1572
refragate1593
OE Laws of Cnut (Nero) ii. xxxia. 334 Gif hine man æniges þingces teo, andswarie innan þam hundrede, þær he on beclypod beo, swa hit rihtlagu sig.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4006 We þe setteþ day of þis nexte ȝere At rome uor to ansuerye.
a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 86 A man þat is in fraunchyse..ys y-helde to answerye atte þe þrydde [somaunce].
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2092 Graunte me day til to morow, [that] I myȝt be avisid To answere forth.
a1500 Rule Third Order St. Francis in W. W. Seton Two 15th Cent. Franciscan Rules (1914) 54 They must besili amend it or ellis they must annswer in the lawe before hym that hathe Jurisdiction.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 344 He rose out of his chayer, and came downe among them, standinge as a priuate persone to aunswere at the barre, as other offenders and men accused.
1601 F. Tate Househ. Ord. Edward II (1876) §51. 35 He..shall aunswere before the steward..if any complaint be made.
1701 T. Knaggs Serm. against Atheism 26 It is appointed for them and all Men once to die; and assoon as Death has clos'd their Eyes, to answer at the Bar of Divine Justice.
1826 Westm. Rev. Oct. 267 The mode in which they must answer at the bar of public opinion amounts already to something of a real responsibility.
1855 Ladies' Repository Nov. 198/2 If you think he has not told the truth, you bring him up to answer in Court immediately, and tell him he must go to the Penitentiary.
1894 Cincinnati Lancet-Clinic 14 Apr. 425/1 The justice informed us that the case was of sufficient importance to bind the defendant over to answer before the Grand Jury.
1912 Outlook 28 Sept. 146/2 The thing to do is to make the law specifically prohibit those things, so that the man who does these things will have to answer before a criminal tribunal.
1948 E. Palmer Golo 53 They'd brought the savage brute To answer at the bar. He'd ne'er refute The charges drawn.
2005 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 13 Oct. 4 When he returns from a family holiday in New Zealand he may yet have to answer at the bar of public opinion.
(b) intransitive. With to the charge or accusation.
ΚΠ
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 421 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 118 (MED) Men acuseden him faste of þe dede; he ne answerede nouȝt þer-to.
1467 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 405 Though it so be the seid fugitif fynd suerte to answer to the accion comencyd ayenst hym.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. xiv. 11 I shold..answere to these artycles of myn accusement.
1544 Act 35 Henry VIII c. 5 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 962 If any person..stand muet or will not directly answer to the same Offences.
1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War ii. xv. f. lxi Pausanias..for to come to answere to charges, that were layd vpon him: was absolued.
1649 Moderate Messenger No. 20 143 Mr. Love also attending the said Committee to answer to his Charge, the Witnesses not appearing at present, he was dismissed.
1687 J. Dalrymple Decisions Lords of Council & Session II. 580 The Arrester insisted in an Improbation, in which the foresaid Assignation was improven, which was found forged,and made up to answer to the Charge of Horning.
1716 J. Winthrop Let. 21 Aug. in Winthrop Papers (1892) V. 324 I am notify'd by the County Sheriff..to answer before you to a very wrong complaint.
1788 S. Glasse Magistrate's Assistant (ed. 2) 5 Any justice..may, by summons underhand and seal, require such person to appear at the general or quarter-sessions, then and there to answer to the matter of such complaint or information.
1868 Rep. Supreme Court Kansas 4 470 The corporation appeared and answered to the claim, and had a trial on the merits.
1920 A. L. Cross Shorter Hist. Eng. & Greater Brit. xix. 203 In May, 1527, Wolsey, after an understanding with the King, summoned him to appear before his legatine court to answer to a charge of living in pretended marriage with his late brother's wife.
2000 P. Tremayne Act of Mercy (2001) xviii. 217 ‘As I recalled, you admitted to the slaughter.’ ‘To the action, not to a crime. It was war and I was simply doing what I was told to do.’ ‘Then you should be prepared to answer to the accusation.’
b.
(a) intransitive. With for. To reply to charges in regard to (an action, fact, etc.); to give a justificatory account of; to be held responsible or accountable for.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > be responsible for [verb (transitive)] > be answerable or accountable for
answerc1300
have1433
c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) 1394 Me acusede him of the trespas..And bad him answere for his stat and aleggi for him hou hit were.
1348 in C. Welch Hist. Pewterers of London (1902) I. 4 (MED) Be it vnderstonde..þt no man wirk in the saide Craft but he wol answere for his wirk oppon the asaie of his werk in whos handes someuer it be founde.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. 300 Þe bisschop..shal answere for þe at þe heygh dome.
a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 357 He [sc. the pope] shal answere for þes soulis þat his children leesen.
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere viii. p. ccccxxxvii He waxed after a shamed of him self, bycause he could no better answer for his heresyes.
1582 J. Lyly in Four Cent. Eng Lett. (1880) 39 Before whome for my speache I shal aunswer.
1659 J. Milton Civil Power in Wks. (1738) I. 551 How much bloodshed have the forcers of Conscience to answer for.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 263. ⁋1 I have no outrageous Offence against my own excellent Parents to answer for.
1786 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 536 It is as particular as the four-sheet maps from which it is taken, and I answer for the exactness of the reduction.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Leila i. i. 6 I answer alone to Allah for my motives.
1878 Weekly Notes Cases Supreme Court Pennsylvania 7 Mar. 110/1 Where does the Court of Quarter Sessions, or any other Court, get the power to call this man before it, and compel him to answer for the manner in which he has discharged his constitutional functions as executive of the laws and commander-in-chief of the militia of the Commonwealth?
1920 R. H. Lowie Primitive Society xiii. 384 As leader in war, he had to answer for the losses sustained and to compensate the bereaved kindred.
1968 P. Paret tr. G. Ritter Frederick the Great v. 67 He had to answer for his actions to the court of pure reason.
2011 M. A. Connor in C. R. Geier et al. Hist. Archaeol. Mil. Sites iv. 35/1 It is better to lug reference material to the crime lab than to have to answer in court for a break in the chain of custody.
(b) intransitive. colloquial. to have much (also a lot, etc.) to answer for: to be to blame for or guilty of many things.
ΚΠ
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1682/2 He that vseth not his owne [desire] well and charitably, hath muche to answere for.
1600 Maydes Metamorphosis iii. i. sig. E1v Your maisters haue much to answere for, that bring ye vp so wickedly.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. i. 12 We that haue good wits, haue much to answer for. View more context for this quotation
1659 R. Yearwood Penitent Murdererer (ed. 5) 61 And certainly were that due care taken in reference to the education of youth, which God in his holy word requires, and which every Christian Parent and Master is bound to observe, Parents would not have so much to answer for.
1711 J. Swift in Examiner 1 No. 38 As to that mighty Error in Politicks, they charge upon the Qu—, for changing Her Ministry in the Heighth of a War. I suppose it is only look'd upon as an Error under a Whigish Administration; otherwise, the late King has much to answer for, who did it pretty frequently.
1763 S. Greenaway Addr. Honest Eng. Hearts 58 The Party however, whose unjust ambition begins the fray, has a great deal to answer for.
1822 Republican 8 Feb. 171 You have many things to answer for, so take warning and reform before the final visitation comes.
1875 A. W. Drayson Gentleman Cadet iv. 54 Poor fellow! your friends have got a lot to answer for!
1896 Daily News 3 Apr. 5/6 The dull monotony of institutional life..has much to answer for in the evil habits contracted by these girls.
1960 J. S. Whale Victor & Victim iii. 57 Ecclesiastical art manufacturers have much to answer for: those pictures of the crucified Christ, for example, the tear-filled eyes lifting their pathetic appeal to heaven.
2005 J. M. Coetzee Slow Man xv. 103 She has a lot to answer for, Mrs Costello.
c. intransitive. to answer for oneself: to present one's own defence; to justify oneself; to speak on one's own behalf, express one's own opinion; to be responsible for one's actions.Cf. earlier sense 24b(b).
ΚΠ
1528 W. Tyndale Obed. Christen Man f. lxxxvij Let the causes be disputed before them, and let him that is accused have rowme to answere for him selfe.
1569 J. Leslie Def. Honour Marie Quene of Scotl. i. f. 19 They are yet at the lengthe forced to answere for them selues, and for theire excessiue outragiouse rebelliouse doings.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iv. ii. 22 How answer you for your selues? View more context for this quotation
1696 W. King 2nd Admon. to Dissenting Inhabitants of Derry xiv. 101 I can answer for my self and all the Officers of the Court, and dare affirm that none of them ever made a Prey of any.
1722 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 676 People very ungenerously take more liberty with him when he is not to answer for himself.
1760 D. Gordon Gen. Hist. Royal & Noble Personages II. 195 He answered for himself without a lawyer for the treason.
1809 C. Cuthbertson Santo Sebastiano (ed. 2) IV. x. 197 ‘We were, very comfortable indeed.—At least, I can answer for myself;’ said Lord St. Orville.
1886 J. S. Corbett Fall of Asgard I. 86 The thrall-woman came to answer for herself.
1956 L. B. Simpson tr. M. Azuela Flies vii, in Two Novels of Mexico (1972) 46 Don't talk to me! I feel the blood of the Reyes-Téllez rushing to my head and I won't answer for myself!
1993 S. McAughtry Touch & Go xxvi. 197 The Crown will make out that we're simply blackening a man's name when he can't answer for himself.
d. intransitive. to answer for itself: (of a quality, work of art, theory, etc.) to show its own worth; to be self-evident. Cf. to speak for itself at speak v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > evident certainty > be self-evident [verb (intransitive)]
'pear1463
to answer for itself1570
speak1689
to speak for itself1779
show1901
1570 J. Gough Aunswer to Maister Fecknams Obiections i. sig. A.viii What therfore shall become of our sinnes, where as not euen our righteousnes it selfe, shall be able to aunswer for it selfe?
1667 J. Stewart Naphtali To Rdr. sig. C6v Thow may'st now speak with the Deduction, which is of age, & able to answere for itself, if according to the Patience, Learning & Justice of many, thow do not Refute and condemn before thow know it.
1725 D. Defoe Tour Great Brit. II. ii. 121 The Royal Exchange,..is the next publick Work of the Citizens, the Beauty of which answers for itself, and needs no Description here.
1755 T. Jones Serm. preached at Visitation Dr. Thackeray Pref. As I find it [sc. a sermon] has been misrepresented by some, and mistaken by more, I now send it abroad to answer for itself.
1817 Scotsman 12 Apr. 95/1 His speech at the meeting answered for itself, and required no comment.
1859 Dwight's Jrnl. Music 16 Apr. 23/1 Pure music, music in itself and answering for itself, not borrowing accidental interest from words, or scenery, or action.
1917 Journeyman Barber May 159/1 It answers for itself. When the campaign was started there were less than 500 in the organization while today more than 2,000 are affiliated with Local 548.
2004 Journal (Newcastle) (Nexis) 28 Sept. 4 While the play will answer for itself in due course, its journey to the stage makes an intriguing story in itself.
19. intransitive. To give an account of one's past deeds before God on Judgement Day. Chiefly with before, to, etc. Cf. sense 21b. as I will answer before (also to) God: used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement; truly (now archaic).
ΚΠ
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xxii. 369 For þyllicum synnum & oðrum beoð þa sawla witnode on Godes gesyhðe, & hio nat, þonne heo synfull bið, mid hwam hio andswerige.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 17 (MED) Ðu, earme saule..scoldest..me andswerien of alle ðine dades.
1408 Will in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 215 (MED) And that he do be me as he wolde y dede by hym, as he wyl Answer atte day of dome.
1413 in F. A. Page-Turner Bedfordshire Wills (1914) 16 I pray and chearge..myn executours, as þey wolle answere to fore god.
1416 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 58 (MED) That y, Geffrey Bussh..bere wittenesse, as y wil answere before gode, that y was dwellynge [etc.].
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. iii. sig. aijv The same nyght as I shal ansuer vnto god this child was begoten vpon me.
1582 W. Allen Briefe Hist. Glorious Martyrdom sig. d1v This he protested to be true, as he would answer before God.
1807 A. van Bengalen in A. Tayob Islam in S. Afr. (1999) ii. 27 Remember that Jan van Boughies can never, as long as he lives, take my place, and whoever gives him my place must answer on the day of judgment.
1857 R. L. Breckinridge in H. C. Fish Pulpit Eloquence 19th Cent. xx. 276 Am I not obliged, as I will answer to God, to go further still, and confess that even in the bosom of every evangelical denomination, those are to be found who have no part in Christ?
2006 S. Ebadi Iran Awakening (2007) xx. 168 ‘You will have to answer on Judgment Day’ I cried shrilly to Ali. ‘It is you who are the negligent one!’
20. intransitive. To reply to or rebut an objection, argument, criticism, etc. Frequently with to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > oppose in argument, refute [verb (intransitive)] > by speaking in turn
answer?c1225
recriminate1611
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Ondswere nu & were þe ȝef þu const aȝeinme oðer ȝette me þiluue þet ich ȝirni se swiðe.
c1300 St. Katherine (Harl.) l. 33 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S.-Eng. Legendary (1956) 534 Mid oþer reisouns of clergie þat maide preouede also Þat here godes noþing nere..Þemperour stod & necouþe answerie in none wise.
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) v. pr. iv. l. 4668 Whan I haue..ansewered to þo resouns by whiche þou art ymoeued.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cci. f. ccliii The duke aunswered to this and sayd, that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people.
1555 R. Pownall tr. W. Musculus Temporysour iv. sig. f.vi Thou aunswerest well. For to this end serueth all examples, namelye, to styre vp in vs a certayne imitacion and folowing.
1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. viii. 75 To satisfie these men, as well as may be, they answer best that define an Accident to be the Manner by which any Body is conceived.
1696 Arraignm. C. Cranburne & R. Lowick 66 My Lord, I must beg leave to Answer to the Objection that the Counsel for the Prisoner have made.
1777 Gentleman's Mag. July 309/1 There is no occasion for the Attorney-General to answer to the objection you have now made.
1854 H. Morley Jerome Cardan II. ix. 237 The gist of Tartalea's argument upon the matter was, however, true, and when writing the above passage he had certainly the best of the discussion. He answered well and boldly.
1895 N.Y. State Reporter 62 627 He would have avoided the error complained of if he had answered to the objection of the defendant's counsel that the court was to be considered open while he conferred with the jury.
1949 H. Finer Theory & Pract. Mod. Govt. (rev. ed.) v. xxii. 589/1 If responsibility means that the cabinet feels obliged to answer to the criticism and admonitions of the House, of the opposition, as well as its own party dissentients, then rigorous responsibility persists.
2002 J. Haslam No Virtue like Necessity Introd. 11 We have to answer to the argument that such concepts have shifted in meaning over time and across space.
21.
a. transitive. To pay the penalty for or suffer the consequences of (an act); to atone or make amends for (something). Usually with it as object. Sometimes with a specified penalty. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > atonement > atone for [verb (transitive)]
beetc897
i-bye10..
abyelOE
answer?a1300
buya1300
amendc1300
mendc1330
forbuy1340
redressa1387
answera1400
byea1400
filla1400
peasea1400
ransoma1400
to pay for——c1400
recompense?a1439
abidea1450
satisfyc1460
redeema1464
repaira1513
syth1513
reconcile1535
acquit1567
dispense1590
assoil1596
propitiate1610
expiatea1626
atone1661
retrievea1679
?a1300 Sayings St. Bernard (Digby) in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 773 Hy ounsweren here misdede: For-þi hoe shulen in helle Euere gronen.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iv. ii. 96 Stanley looke to your wife, if she conuay Letters to Richmond you shall answere it. View more context for this quotation
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1953) VI. 356 Whosoever is dead in thy family by thy negligence, thou shall answer the King that Subject.
1661 W. Howell Inst. Gen. Hist. i. ii. ii. 348 Promising Sphodrias should answer it with his life, they were content to expect the justice of the State upon him.
1754 Bp. T. Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. i. 31 If you receive not the Light you must answer it.
1800 R. Cumberland Joanna of Montfaucon iii. 48 Keep fast the prisoner! I command you hold him, as you shall answer it to our Lord Lazarra.
1860 A. S. Stephens Myra (2006) vi. 93 If he comes within my reach, if he dares to intrude his presence even into the neighborhood, he shall answer it with his life or mine!
a1894 R. B. W. Noel House of Ravensburg ii. iii, in Coll. Poems (1902) 221 Say the boy hates me not, most cruel man! So you have done this! you shall answer it!
1971 D. A. Low Mind of Buganda 153 But Nsibirwa answered it with his life. He was assassinated.
b. intransitive. To pay the penalty or suffer the consequences, to atone or make amends, esp. for (formerly also †to) an act. Sometimes with a specified penalty.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > atonement > atone for [verb (transitive)]
beetc897
i-bye10..
abyelOE
answer?a1300
buya1300
amendc1300
mendc1330
forbuy1340
redressa1387
answera1400
byea1400
filla1400
peasea1400
ransoma1400
to pay for——c1400
recompense?a1439
abidea1450
satisfyc1460
redeema1464
repaira1513
syth1513
reconcile1535
acquit1567
dispense1590
assoil1596
propitiate1610
expiatea1626
atone1661
retrievea1679
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > atonement > atone for [verb (transitive)] > make atonement to (a person)
to make one's gree to or withc1290
answera1400
satisfy1437
content1548
to make it up to1860
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 7400 (MED) He þat broght here to þat bysmere, For here foly he shal answere.
1582 O. Pigg Comfortable Treat. First Epist. Peter sig. D.vi But because it is great blasphemy, once to imagine any such thing: they shall on day answere for their sin.
1648 J. Andrewes Golden Trumpet (new ed.) iv. sig. A8 They shall give accompt not onely of every idle word, work, & deed, but also of every idle thought: yea, every man, and every member of man shall answer to his default.
1710 W. Mather Young Man's Compan. (1727) 122 The Husband must answer to his Wive's Faults; if she wrong another..he must make Satisfaction.
1745 D. E. Baker tr. ‘A. F. de Avellaneda’ Don Quixote II. iv. iv. 89 If she should happen not to be so beautiful as I have Painted her, take Notice you shall Answer for it yourself, since I took your Word for it.
1801 Monthly Rev. 36 App. 501 He ventured to save the garrison of Nieuport, consisting almost wholly of Hanoverians: for which indulgence he would have answered with his life, had not those wretches..paid the forfeit of their crimes.
1852 Dublin Univ. Mag. Nov. 546/2 Dick Mulcahy shall answer for the wrongs of my father and mother, and for the blows and kicks he gave to my father and mother's son.
1900 E. Phillpotts Sons of Morning x. 273 Still, he've answered for his sins, an' I hates un no more.
1920 W. O. Stevens & A. Westcott Hist. Sea Power xi. 231 Robespierre had told Villaret that if the convoy were captured he should answer for it with his life.
1998 Illawarra (Austral.) Mercury (Nexis) 29 June 8 Arkell was relentless in blaming The Mercury for his fall from grace. At every opportunity he condemned the newspaper, pleaded with people not to buy it, and said he would not stop until we answered for our sins.
22. transitive. To speak or write in reply or opposition to (a charge or accusation); to defend or justify oneself verbally in regard to. Also: to provide a justification of (an action, fact, etc.) (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > proof, demonstration > prove, demonstrate [verb (transitive)]
i-sothea925
soothec950
fanda1000
kitheOE
betell1048
showc1175
prove?c1225
treousec1275
stablisha1325
approve1340
verifyc1386
justifya1393
tryc1412
answer?a1425
appreve?c1450
to make gooda1470
convictc1475
averifyc1503
arguea1513
find1512
pree1515
comprobate1531
demonstrate1538
conclude1549
convince1555
argument1558
evict1571
avoucha1593
evidencea1601
remonstrate1601
clear1605
attaint1609
monstrate1609
evince1610
evince1611
improve1613
remonstrance1621
to make out1653
ascertain1670
to bring off1674
to make (something) to through1675
render1678
substantiatea1691
establisha1704
to bring out1727
realize1763
validate1775
?a1425 (a1415) Lanterne of Liȝt (Harl.) (1917) 100 (MED) He schal be sumned to come aforne hise iuggis to answere what is seide to him.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Answer an action, or plaint, Dicere causam.
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1616) sig. Ev We were best looke that your deuill can answere the stealing of this same cup.
1646 J. Bastwick Utter Routing of Army of Independents App. 620 I am necessitated..to be somewhat large in my reply, that I may fully answer the Charge you bring against me therein.
c1680 W. Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 307 How they will answer it..at the last day I know not.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. 128 Mainpernors are bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §125 The Proprietors could not answer it to the public..if they kept me in waiting.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 71 I grieve thus to distress you, but the Count Must answer charges of the gravest import.
1879 A. Trollope Eye for Eye I. iv. 66 How would she..answer it to Lady Sophia, if Sophie should go back to Mellerby from her house, engaged to a younger brother who had nothing but a commission?
1909 G. K. Chesterton Ball & Cross xv. 300 As they went sailing down Ludgate Hill, Evan saw that the state of the streets fully answered his companion's claim about the reintroduction of order.
1944 M. Irwin Young Bess xix. 202 I will go to them and answer any charges made against me.
2010 M. A. Stern David Franks xiii. 137 At the board session, Simon was charged with accepting Continental money from David Franks for provisions delivered to British prisoners. Simon asked for time to answer the accusation and wanted David to provide a good response.
23. To reply to or rebut (an objection, argument, criticism, etc., or a person making one).
a. transitive. With the argument, etc., as object.
ΚΠ
?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye i. sig. b7v Let vs se how he answereth the argument.
1581 W. Charke in A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion (1584) iv. sig. F f b You haue so often chalenged vs to answere you an argument.
?a1645 A. Stafford Just Apol. in Life Blessed Virgin (1860) p. xxiii I determined to answeare his Forgeries.
1696 J. Tyrrell Gen. Hist. Eng. I. p. xcix He will please to crave in Aid some Gentlemen of the Long Robe of his Opinion, to help him to answer this Argument of Mr. Lambard.
1705 Ax laid to Root of Tree p. lvii I beg leave to answer the Objection, which I fore-see will be made..to some Members of the Romanish Communion.
1796 B. Donne Ess. Mech. Geom. App. 87 An Asymptote to an Hyperbola will answer this Paradox, as is shewn by the Writers on Conic Sections.
1865 Methodist Rev. July 447/1 Our protest has never been answered.
1893 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Apr. 299 I must, however, in justice to myself answer his objections in full.
1939 T. H. Pear in F. C. Bartlett et al. Study of Society i. i. 18 Freud's psycho-analytic views on the causes of war..have been expounded rather uncritically by his followers, e.g. by E. Glover.., who has not answered the criticisms advanced by M. Ginsberg.
1999 Isis 90 558 The balance of the booklet reenforces these themes by relating national standards for science education, answering common objections to teaching evolution, [etc.].
b. transitive. With the maker of the argument, etc., as object.In quot. OE showing Old English ge-andswarian in equivalent use (see etymology section).
ΚΠ
OE (Northumbrian) Rushw. Gospels: Luke xxi. 15 Ego enim dabo uobis os et sapientiam cui non poterunt respondere et contradicere omnes aduersari uestri : ic forðon selo iow muð & snytru ðæm ne magun hia giondsworia & wiðcweoða alle wiðerworda iowre.]
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare iii. 178 I must needes answeare M. Hardinge, as Cicero sometime answeared his aduersarie: Mimi ergo exitus est, non Fabulae.
1675 W. Sherlock Def. & Contin. Disc. concerning Knowl. Jesus Christ v. 418 If Dr. Owen be of this mind, as methinks he should be by this quotation, I would desire him to answer Mr. Ferguson; if he be not, let him answer Mr. Hooker.
1743 T. Bott Answer to Revd. Mr. Warburton's Divine Legation of Moses iii. 296 It is really not a little surprising to see Mr. Warburton, even when he is endeavouring to answer his Opponents, so often doing it upon the Supposition, that Will is the Ground of moral Obligation.
1790 Crit. Rev. Aug. 220 Dr. Geddes has answered his critics, his advisers, and his querists very satisfactorily.
1867 G. H. Lewes Hist. Philos. (ed. 3) II. iii. iii. 274 At first he [sc. Leibnitz] answered Locke in a few paragraphs of a somewhat supercilious tone.
1922 Publishers' Weekly 4 Mar. 528 (advt.) Bryan answers Darwin! in his challenging book In His Image.
2005 J. A. York Archit. of Addr. ii. 30 This tactic is an argumentative one, calculated to answer the objectors he spoke of in early paragraphs and to quell any casualness or doubts others may have had.
** Senses relating to response to a claim, demand, requirement, etc., sometimes also involving response to a question (as in senses at branch I.).
24.
a. intransitive. With for (in Old English also †fore). To speak or make a statement or commitment on behalf of; to undertake responsibility on behalf of.Frequently in negative contexts, often serving to highlight by contrast the speaker's or writer's own action or opinion.Sometimes in response to a question.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > state or declare [verb (transitive)] > on behalf of another
answereOE
society > faith > worship > sacrament > baptism > baptize [verb (transitive)] > sponsor
answereOE
heavec1175
to fang toc1420
gossipa1616
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter: Canticles & Hymns (1965) iii. 8 (14) Domine, uim patior, responde pro me : dryhten ned ic ðrowiu ondsweora fore me [lOE Canterbury Psalter onswere fore me].
OE Dispute between Edwin & his Mother (Sawyer 1462) in A. J. Robertson Anglo-Saxon Charters (1956) 153 Þa acsode þe bisceop hwa sceolde andswerian for his moder.
1423–4 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1423 §9. m. 1 All Engleys lordes, and othir chieftans, of hare nations wyth in þe lond of Irlond, bene bounden..forto aunswere for hare kyne.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) Table 8 How euery good woman ought to ansuere for her lord in al thynge.
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxx. 33 So shall my righteousnesse answere for mee. View more context for this quotation
1635 W. Lambarde & T. Lambarde Archeion (new ed.) 211 But if the Clarke be insufficient, then is the Sheriffe himselfe to answer for him.
1653 Marquess of Winchester tr. N. Talon Holy Hist. iv. vii. 208 For my part I am ready to Answer for him, and to ingage my life for his, that in case I doe not bring him back, you may take mine.
1735 London Mag. Aug. 412/2 Tho' the Members of this House might perhaps depend upon the Fidelity and Secrecy of one another, yet we cannot answer for the Strangers that may be amongst us.
1813 R. Watt Treat. Chincough 149 Have they ever seen it without more or less hardness, quickness, or irregularity of the pulse? I cannot answer for others, but I can say for myself, that after long and careful observation, I have not.
1848 W. Harton Law Lexicon 587/2 Respondeat superior, (let the superior answer). If a coroner of a county is insufficient, the county, as his superior, shall answer for him.
1912 A. Jones Marcus Holbeach's Daughter xxiv. 247 Wait! Of course we're going to wait when we've come to the very back of beyond to hunt up that father or yours, child. At least I am—I can't answer for you, Clarice.
1967 J. Bernard Journey toward Freedom (1990) xv. 111 When Belle came to court to answer for him, the judge would always release him in her care, with a small fine and a warning.
2002 J. Sayre in C. Willis NYPD 113 He's one of my boys and I'll answer for him. Just leave him to me.
b. spec. Christian Church. At a baptism.
(a) intransitive. To stand sponsor for another.
ΚΠ
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 17 (MED) Here godfaderes sullen for hem andswerie bifore þe prest ate fanstone.
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) i. sig. biijv Yt preest demaunded what name wylt yu haue, & ye godfad[er] or both two togyd[er] answer for ye childe John.
1661 R. Baxter Accompt Proc. Rev. Bk. Common Prayer (new ed.) sig. B2 In publick Baptism you are so far from giving a Liberty to the Parent to answer for his own Child..as that you force him to the use of Sureties.
1780 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 2) IV. i. 34 The late king and queen, then prince and princess, answered for his son.
1850 Christian Guardian Apr. 183/1 So careful was our Church, that those who present the child to baptism should be persons in communion with the Church, and, therefore, recognised as true believers and consistent Christians, who, with intelligence and faith, can pray and answer for the child whom they bring to this ordinance.
1907 M. A. Canney tr. H. von Schubert Outl. Church Hist. xii. 216 All the ceremonies..were retained, and the god-parents had to answer for the child only in the passages in which the candidate for baptism is supposed to speak.
2001 G. Geddes & J. Griffiths St. Mark's Gospel 110/1 The godparents answer for the child when they are asked to renounce evil and turn to Christ.
(b) intransitive. to answer for oneself: to make a commitment in baptism on one's own behalf.
ΚΠ
?a1425 Chron. Papacy l. 47 in Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. (1942) 41 176 (MED) Seint Austyne seiþ þat woxen men cristened schulde answere for hem self; neuerþeles þay haue nede of god faders, as law techiþ.
1631 W. Watts in tr. St. Augustine Confessions i. ii. 33 (note) This was the practise of the Primitive times: by which religious parents devoted their children unto Christ, long before their Baptisme; which in those dayes was deferred till they were able to answer for themselves.
1681 Bk. Common Prayer (heading) The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of riper years, and able to answer for themselves.
1769 Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 89/2 Those who are of riper years must answer for themselves, and make the covenant with their own mouths, and the Godfathers are only witnesses to the fact.
1840 B. Kurtz Infant Baptism App. 329 Sponsors in cases of adult baptism, appear to have been introduced in the fifth century; but they were employed only under peculiar circumstances; for example, when the adult was dumb, or in a state of delirium and could not answer for himself.
1910 Encycl. Brit. III. 367/1 The sponsors who formerly attested to the worthiness of the candidate..have become god-parents, who take the baptismal vows vicariously for infants who cannot answer for themselves.
2010 S. Jones in M. Ross & S. Jones Serious Business of Worship ii. xi. 154 In the baptism of infants, parents and godparents answer for themselves and not for the children.
25. intransitive. To be accountable, undertake a responsibility; to be a guarantor, give an assurance, vouch. Usually with for (in Old English also †fore).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > responsibility > be responsible for [verb (transitive)] > take upon oneself as a responsibility
answera1200
to stand to ——1540
to charge oneself with1727
shoulder1900
a1200 ( Writ of Edward the Confessor (Sawyer 1124) in F. E. Harmer Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) 347 Syððan gif þær hwa on specan wille, ic wille swa andswarian fore, swa swa mannan þincð þæt riht lage sy.
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xiii. 68 Ȝif þe roberie be imad in marche bituuene tuueine hundredes, þanne sullen boþe hundredes ansuerien.
1482 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 98/1 Wilȝaim Cumyng masare ansuerand for him vnder cautioun.
1557 in 6th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Pt. I (1877) App. 692/1 in Parl. Papers (C. 1745) XLVII. 1 It is within the power of Alexander Menzes..to ansuer for the gud reule of the Clangregour.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke iii. 149 Here it is, and it may bee that you may spie some informalitie in it, but I will answere for the true composition.
1697 E. Settle World in Moon iii. 25 Well, Widow, if you dare trust me with your Boy; I'll answer for his good Behaviour.
1729 A. Pope Dunciad (new ed.) (advt.) 3 I cannot answer but some mistakes may have slipt into [this edition].
1757 E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances (1766) IV. 60 I told him I dared answer for it that you never confounded Grammar.
a1865 E. C. Gaskell Wives & Daughters (1866) II. xi. 115 ‘I'll answer for it, Mrs. Goodenough saw Molly.’.. When Miss Browning ‘answered for it’ Miss Phœbe gave up doubting.
1881 Daily Tel. 27 Dec. A musical monarch, whose tunefulness is answered for by Mr. Henry Nordblom.
1914 G. B. Shaw Misalliance 44 I havnt said a word to him; and I cant answer for him socially.
1978 P. O'Brian Desolation Island v. 131 I must tell you that my medicine-chest is bare. I..therefore cannot answer for my three-score convalescents, at all.
2004 Windsor (Ontario) Star (Nexis) 27 Jan. a6 It won't be good enough to say he delegated responsibility for membership recruitment to others and cannot answer for their behaviour.
26. To meet a financial claim or obligation. Also in figurative contexts.
a. intransitive. To be responsible for a payment; to be liable to pay compensation. With for (also †of).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay [verb (intransitive)] > be responsible for payment
answer1429
subscribe1680
1429–30 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Sept. 1429 §47. m. 6 Diverse customers..for swich said wolle..hav passed hire accomptes, answeryng for poundage of hem..and so of here..accomptes discharged and quited.
a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 563 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 317 The chaunceler answeres for hor clothyng, For ȝomen, faukeners, and hor horsyng, For his wardrop and wages also.
1480 Cronicles Eng. (Caxton) ccxxv. sig. p4v The lordes of euery toune wher suche thyng shold be taxed..shold ansuere to the kyug ther of.
1527 Statutes Prohemium Iohannis Rastell (new ed.) f. cciiv The lorde that dystrayneth shall haue a wrytte to delyuer hym so many bestes or so moche cattaylles and yf the baylyffe haue not wher with to contente hym than his superyour shall answere for hym.
1551 W. Thomas tr. Livy Argument Apparaile of Women sig. Bv Whiche..moued the officers to take vp the goodes of the widowes and orphanes vpon credite, to be aunswered of the common wealth.
a1594 R. Greenham Παραμύθιον (1598) 70 If Sathan sommon thee to answer for thy debts, send him also to Christ.
1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. 54 a Tenant in dower..shall answer for the waste done by a stranger.
a1663 D. Dickson Therapeutica Sacra (1664) I. iv. 27 God would not passe a Covenant of grace and reconciliation to men, except He had a good Surety who would answer for the debt of the party reconciled.
1718 G. Duncombe Trials per Pais (ed. 5) xv. 398 If agisted Cattle do Trespass, the Agistor shall answer.
1746 Laws, Ordin. & Inst. Admirality Great Brit. I. v. 181 His Ability and Honesty are to be considered, since on him rests the Charge, not only of the Vessel, but of the Lading; their very Actions subjecting the Owners to answer for all Damage that shall be done, or occasioned by him or his Mariners.
1772 Jacob's Law-Dict. (ed. 9) Consequential losses, or damages, it is a fundamental principle in law and reason, that he who does the first wrong shall answer for all consequential damages.
1829 S. Martin Treat. Act 9 Geo. IV. Cap. 14 iii. 103 A guarantee is a contract whereby one person engages to answer for the debt or default of another.
1890 Railway Conductor 15 Jan. 54/2 The expenses of building were to be covered by shares emitted by the Canton of Uri. The government of the Canton of Lucerne answered for a sum of 240,000 frs.
1939 North Western Reporter 287 798 He is compelled to answer for his debt because of a former rule which has now been superseded by statute.
2003 G. Parry & S. Johnston Sc. Engin. Contracts xi. 220 A guarantor assumes a secondary liability to answer for the default of the principal debtor who remains primarily liable.
b. transitive. To provide money to meet (a claim), discharge (a debt), pay (a sum) in response to a legal demand. Hence: to be sufficient money to meet (a liability).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay (a claim, dues, or charge)
doOE
bearOE
payc1300
content1433
answer1471
recontenta1525
sustain1530
even1619
settle1688
foot1819
1471 in E. W. W. Veale Great Red Bk. Bristol: Text Pt. II (1938) 139 (MED) [That] subsidies of the saide goodes..to vs due faithfully bè ansuerd, as right is Yeuen vndre oure Signet.
1529 in M. Livingstone Reg. Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1908) I. 593/1 That na lettres of gift..be ansuerit at the signete..without the subscriptioun of the said Robert.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 835 This match was made in Catoes house, where they all did put in caution or sureties to aunswere the money.
1581 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha i. xviii. 166 Their armour and weapon shall be prised, and the same aunsweared to the use of the Queene Maiestie.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 183 This proud king, who studies..To answere all the debt he owes to you. View more context for this quotation
1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. A3v His fortunes cannot answere his expence.
1629 Vse of Law 75 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light The third part must descend to the Heire to answere Guardship.
1710 in London Gaz. mmmmdclxxiii/3 Officer for any refusal or neglect of his Duty, to answer Damages.
1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives II. 473 A fine which his circumstances could not answer.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 169 Those are to answer the debt who neither were lenders or borrowers, mortgagers or mortgagees.
1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley i. 6 A few shillings..to answer any sudden occasion.
1883 Rules Supreme Court United States 23 The plaintiff in error or appellant shall prosecute his writ or appeal to effect and answer all damages and costs if he fail to make his plea good.
1964 B. Hindle David Rittenhouse (1980) xvii. 273 There was still not enough money to answer demands based on legal appropriations.
1995 S. K. Sharma Testamentary & Intestate Succession App. 261 If the assets are not sufficient to answer the debts and the specific legacies, an abatement shall be made from the latter rateably in proportion to their respective amounts.
2008 S. Raman in D. E. Henderson Alternative Shakespeares III. ix. 167 Length of time is still not sufficient to answer his debt of gratitude.
27. intransitive. With to. To be required to account for oneself or one's actions to (another person). Cf. answerable adj. 1b.
ΚΠ
1792 Act to establish Post-office & Post-roads U.S. (2nd U.S. Congr., 1st Sess.) 5 The deputy postmasters..[shall] answer to him for all bye or way-letters, and shall specify the number and rates in the post bill.
1864 T. Morris in Jrnl. Gen. Conf. Methodist Episcopal Church App. 290 I do not mean liberty for a man to do what he pleases without answering to anybody.
1888 Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours Feb. 314/1 If you've killed my girl, Desmond, you've got to answer to me for it.
1906 Washington Daviess County (Indiana) Democrat 3 Nov. Democrats recognize only the sovereign people and answer only to them.
1993 Aiken (S. Carolina) Standard 19 Jan. 1 Members would answer only to voters in their district.
2003 Irish Tatler Aug. 48/2 We have no one to answer to but ourselves.
28. intransitive. U.S. With to. To be responsible or report to (a person) in a hierarchy of power or authority.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > be under authority [verb (intransitive)] > act in subordinate position
subserve1642
answer1913
1913 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily News 23 July 2/4 A detective department in the police headquarters..that will have..a captain who will answer only to the chief for his work.
1953 Mil. Affairs 16 114/2 Commanders..answering only to the Chief of Staff through the War Department.
1999 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 13 Dec. 63/3 You set your own hours, work with the TV blaring, and don't have to answer to a boss.
2007 Wall St. Jrnl. 5 Oct. a16/1 Rogue soldiers..answering only to corporate headquarters.
*** Senses also involving an idea of correspondence (cf. branch III.).
†29. transitive. To provide a return to (a person); to repay, recompense, compensate; to recompense or compensate (someone) for (or of) something. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay (a person)
payc1275
answera1387
defraya1586
imburse1721
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 11 (MED) Þoo þe feeldes answerde [L. repondebant] þe tiliers of plente of corn.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. xvii. 18 By whiche caucyon he myght bynd hym self for to ansuere me yf that his accyon in dome be desalowyd.
a1500 Walter of Henley's Husbandry (Sloane) (1890) 57 The pecok shall answere you off as moche for his fedris as þe shepe for his woll.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccviii. 467 We wolde demaunde good hostages and sufficient, to answere vs of our horses agayne.
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 511/1 The Emperor declared plainly that he woulde bee answered for such summes of mony as king Richard had taken.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1415/1 The said countries (which with their riches by common estimation answered the emperour Charles equallie to his Indies).
1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. ii. 132 That king Richard should yeerly pay and answer the Duke of all the Revenues.
1674 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. i. 162 The army are not yet answer'd their last Quarter's pay.
30. To satisfy the requirements or desires of a person, institution, etc.; to be advantageous to or suit a person, etc.
†a. transitive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > suit or be suitable for [verb (transitive)] > be adequate for the case or conditions
fulfila1425
serve1445
satisfy1526
answer1581
fit1603
respond1677
meet1785
implement1857
to fill the bill1882
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. 141 In choice of wittes, which must deale with learning, that wit is fittest for our state, which answereth best the monarchie.
1795 E. P. Simcoe Diary 23 Aug. (2007) 202 The miller who lives here has a project of finding a means to drag these logs on shore in which case it will answer him to build a Saw Mill here.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. i. 13 He offered him a beast he thought wad answer him weel aneugh.
1865 J. J. Murphy Let. 26 Nov. in E. Murray Becoming Irlandés 67 I am sorry I did not know that before, as she says they have no children, for which reason they would answer me very well.
1913 Papers Mil. Hist. Soc. Mass. XIII. 242 I had already been there and examined the ground, and..it was unsuitable, with poor water supply. He insisted it would answer me very well.
1914 A. Agnew Jrnl. 18 Mar. in F. H. Crawford Guns for Ulster (1947) 63 She was discharging coal and was about half clear. Mr. C. went to the engine room, and Major Crawford and myself went over the rest. It was decided she would answer us very well, some small damage requiring to be repaired.
b. intransitive. With to. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial to [verb (transitive)]
helpc1000
goodOE
steadc1175
to do (one) boot?c1225
advancec1330
profitc1330
availc1384
servea1398
vaila1400
vailc1400
prevail1442
advantage?1459
vantagec1460
bootc1540
benefit1549
conduce?1577
to serve (one) in some, no stead1601
bonify1603
answer1756
better1833
to stand to ——1841
to stand (a person or thing) in (good, etc.) stead1887
1756 Gentleman's Mag. May 223/2 Mr Dodsley has presented the world with a select collection of old plays in twelve volumes; I hope it has answered to him as a tradesman, for I am sure we are greatly obliged to him for the undertaking.
1780 C. Burney Let. 10 Apr. in F. Burney Early Diary (1907) II. 289 He staid 'till five next morning, and it answered to him excessively well, as indeed you may easily suppose, being the first Masquerade that he ever was at.
1834 R. Whately Remarks on Transportation 31 It answers to him therefore to acquiesce in any thing short of the most gross idleness and extravagance, for the sake of keeping his slave.
1850 E. Bulwer-Lytton Wks. II. viii. iii. 15 If Beatrice di Negra would indeed be rich, she might answer to himself as a wife.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel II. viii. iii. 314 Randal..rapidly considered whether, if Beatrice di Negra would indeed be rich, she might answer to himself as a wife.
1862 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia III. xiii. viii. 519 He was in the way of making such investments..and found them answer to him.
1983 A. Richlin tr. Horace Satires ii. iv, in Garden of Priapus vii. 181 If a guest suddenly afflicts you toward evening, lest the tough hen answer badly to your palate, you will be wise to plunge her live in champagne and stir it; this will make her tender.
31. To satisfy or fulfil a wish, hope, expectation, need, requirement, etc. Cf. sense 13 and Phrases 1b.
a. transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > be content or satisfied with [verb (transitive)] > content or satisfy > a desire or appetite
stanchc1315
queema1325
slakec1325
fill1340
servea1393
feedc1400
exploita1425
assuagec1430
astaunchc1430
slocken?1507
eslakec1530
sate1534
saturate1538
appease1549
glut1549
answer1594
exsatiate1599
embaitc1620
palliate1631
recreate1643
still1657
jackal1803
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. L3 At length addrest to answer his desire. View more context for this quotation
1596 C. M. First Pt. Nature of Woman i. sig. B2 Heauens, and their happie starres had so effectually aunswered their longing hopes, in the issue of those louing princes.
1631 S. Jerome Arraignem. Whole Creature x. §1. 74 They answere not expectance.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 2 I shall almost answer your hopes. View more context for this quotation
1673 W. Cave Primitive Christianity i. i. 3 This he well foresaw and the event truly answered it.
1753 J. Warton in C. Pitt tr. Virgil Æneid iv. in J. Warton et al. tr. Virgil Wks. II. 283 (note) Our expectations are fully answered, and she comes forth as lovely a figure as we can conceive.
1765 J. Wilkes Corr. (1805) II. 137 Were you here with me, my fondest wishes would be answered.
1806 A. Proudfit Ruin & Recovery of Man vii. 171 The Son of God..was held forth as the end of the law for righteousness; as answering all its requirements by the obedience of his life.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 126 The result answered his expectations.
1884 R. Marsden Cotton Spinning ix. 264 The last invention.., which seems to answer all needs, is the automatic nosing motion brought out by Messrs. Platts.
1931 C. Gill & C. W. Valentine Govt. & People (ed. 2) xv. 196 Parliament agrees before the beginning of the year to allow the Ministry enough money to answer its needs for some weeks.
1938 Reader's Digest Sept. 1 Even fair price ceilings and quality floors won't answer real needs unless an adequate supply of goods is made available.
2002 Birmingham Post (Nexis) 16 Nov. 34 Santa answered my wishes one Christmas, when I was five years old and thought I was the white Cassius Clay.
b. intransitive. With to.
ΚΠ
1610 A. P. tr. F. Herring Popish Pietie xxix. sig. B1v They see him forward, answering to their wish, They spurre and pricke him on.
1675 S. Loveday Alarm to Slumbring Christians 259 Thou must do thy alms with discretion so as it may be most answering to his needs and his profit.
1766 R. B. Cheston Pathol. Inq. & Observ. Surg. i. 3 The laxative Medicines ordered for him answered to our Wishes.
1827 Eclectic Rev. Mar. 272 In the third chapter, Professor Lee proceeds to inquire, whether Revelation affords the criteria by which any one laying claim to a Divine mission may be known; and, if so, whether Mohammed's character answers to the requirements of such criteria.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. i. ix. 133 He was constantly scrutinizing Tito's mind to see whether it answered to his own exaggerated expectations.
1928 S. Morison German Incunabula in Brit. Mus. 10 The Bastards are scripts answering to the need for a speedy letter appropriate for the copying of books or documents of minor value or importance.
1961 tr. Rep. Temp. Comm. State Duma in R. P. Browder & A. F. Kerensky Russ. Provisional Govt., 1917 I. vi. 245 They win the peasants' confidence by propagating the most extreme doctrines, answering to the hidden hopes of a landless populace, who advocate the adoption of a new land policy without restrictions or moderation.
2011 A. Glaeser Polit. Epistemics iii. v. 267 Socialism answered to his desires to be rid of the Nazi influences.
†32. transitive. To prove a satisfactory return or equivalent for (an expenditure, effort, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)] > bring in (a revenue)
raise1389
levy1469
to pull in?1529
to fetch again1535
to bring in?1548
yield1573
produce1585
answer1596
in1609
render1687
net1758
rent1775
realize1777
earn1847
recoup1868
1596 Bp. W. Barlow tr. L. Lavater Three Christian Serm. Ded. 81 Yet did they not answer either the threshers labour, or the owners measure.
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 6 This stone answereth the charge of fetching..and counteruaileth his great hardnesse in working, with the profit of long endurance.
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries Pref. Nothing..which might answer their trouble and expence.
1731 Ld. Bathurst Let. 19 Apr. in J. Swift Corr. (1913) IV. 214 The maid will..sell more butter and cheese than will answer her wages.
1762 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 6) III. ii. 106 We omitted visiting many other Places in these Parts, which, had Time allowed, would have answered the Trouble of riding uneven Roads.
1780 W. Coxe Acct. Russ. Discov. 7 No crop..sufficient..to answer the pains and expence of raising it.
1840 Rep. Commissioners Bankruptcy App. 478 in Parl. Papers XVI. 1 Small estates will not pay enough to answer the trouble, and large ones pay too much.
1902 Musical Times 43 733/1 The success that has attended this movement has so completely answered the effort made, that the Committee intend to extend the area and increase the number of places to be visited.
33.
a. transitive. To accomplish (an end); to suit (an aim or purpose).See also to answer one's purpose at purpose n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > be efficacious for [verb (transitive)]
sufficec1325
satisfy1570
answer1615
1615 T. Cooper Christians Daily Sacrifice (rev. ed.) i. viii. 79 As wee must not thinke that we were made to serue our owne turnes, to eate and drinke, and so let vs labour to answer these ends of our creation.
1697 T. Taylor Serm. preach'd in Burcester 11 The designs of Providence, will be answer'd by the very intention of Nature, without recurrence to Miracles.
1714 H. Grove Spectator No. 588. ⁋2 In both Cases the Ends of Self Love are equally answered.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. vii. xiii. 110 I then applied a Fomentation..which highly answered the Intention. View more context for this quotation
1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ i. 8 My design will be fully answered.
1814 in Hist. Rec. Austral. (1916) 1st Ser. VIII. 329 Quit rents to One Shilling per Acre would by no Means answer the Intentions of Government to raise a Revenue from the Crown Lands, intended to be granted.
1853 H. Martineau Positive Philos. of Comte I. vi. 467 Unfortunately, our means are yet further from answering our aims than in the two preceding divisions of the science.
1909 J. S. Shedlock tr. L. van Beethoven Lett. I. 285 The works will be copied, and you will have them as soon as possible; with the oratorio do whatever you please; if it is any use to you, it will best answer my intention.
1951 J. W. H. Atkins Eng. Literary Crit.: 17th & 18th Cent. (1966) ix. 346 For Berkeley,..perfect beauty of architecture was attained when it answered the ends for which it was made.
2000 C. Ando Imperial Ideol. & Provinc. Loyalty in Rom. Empire i. iii. 61 Augustus and his successors were attempting to govern a vast empire with a small bureaucracy, and the exploitation of preexisting leagues answered this aim.
b.
(a) intransitive. To satisfy requirements, to serve the purpose. Also with adverbial: to turn out in a specified manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > be efficacious [verb (intransitive)]
workOE
availa1400
makea1400
prevaila1400
to hit the nail upon (or on) the headc1450
effect1592
serve1593
to tickle it1601
take1611
executea1627
to have force (to do)1713
answer1721
to take place1789
to do the trick1819
to hit (also go to, touch, etc.) the spot1836
produce1881
to press (also push) the button1890
to come through1906
to turn the trick1933
to make a (also the) point1991
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)]
speedc1175
fayc1300
provec1300
flourishc1400
passc1425
prosper1434
succeedc1450
to take placea1464
to come well to (our) pass1481
shift?1533
hitc1540
walka1556
fadge1573
thrive1587
work1599
to come (good) speedc1600
to go off1608
sort1613
go1699
answer1721
to get along1768
to turn up trumps1785
to come off1854
pan1865
scour1871
arrive1889
to work out1899
to ring the bell1900
to go over1907
click1916
happen1949
1721 A. Malcolm Treat. Musick iii. 81 When we examine this Proposition by other Examples, it will not answer.
1783 W. Cowper Let. 19 Jan. (1981) II. 99 Their Labour was almost in vain before, but now it answers.
1785 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 488 If they find our timber answer.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. 27 It answered better as a speculation to convert arable land into pasture.
c1865 J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 314/1 Boxwood charcoal answers best for this purpose.
1917 H. W. Conn Bacteria, Yeasts, & Molds in Home (rev. ed.) 271 Place several slices of bread under a bell glass or any dish that will protect it from evaporation. Battery jars, large beakers, or even common bowls will answer.
1973 D. Ward Jonathan Swift vi. 174 At first Gulliver manages to practise a mild deception on his master by wearing his clothes at all times; but this will not answer as a way of asserting his difference from the Yahoos.
1994 P. O'Brian Wine-dark Sea (new ed.) 164 For the rest of daylight—and brilliant daylight it was, with never a cloud to be seen—this answered well enough and they supped by watches on biscuit and oatmeal.
(b) intransitive. With to. To satisfy the requirements of a specified purpose, intention, etc.
ΚΠ
1704 J. Swift Tale of Tub xi. 207 How directly opposite all his Endeavors had answered to the sole End and Intention, which he had proposed to himself.]
1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming xxv. 190 I used some large Flints that I put together Archways, that answered compleatly to my Purpose, by holding almost as good now as at first.
1772 J. Spencer Hermas I. xiv. 217 All know their purpose, answer to their end, Except frail man, none vary, none offend.
1827 Lady Morgan O'Briens & O'Flahertys II. i. 6 The result answered to the intention.
1886 R. B. Haldane & J. Kemp tr. A. Schopenhauer World as Will & Idea III. xliv. 343 What draws two individuals of different sex exclusively to each other with such power is the will to live, which exhibits itself in the whole species, and which here anticipates in the individual which these two can produce an objectification of its nature answering to its aims.
1933 L. Berkhof Man. Christian Doctr. (2002) 115 The divine government is the continued activity of God whereby He rules all things, so that they answer to the purpose of their existence.
2003 E. A. Williams Cultural Hist. Med. Vitalism in Enlightenment Montpellier iii. 100 All these essential activities stood as clear proof that the functions of the body answered to clear and beneficent ends even if, just as clearly, they lay outside the domain of conscious choice.
III. Senses with emphasis on similarity or correspondence.
34. To correspond to something or someone else in appearance; (now less commonly) to correspond to something else in number, shape, size, position, fitness, or some other characteristic.
a. intransitive. With to (also †against, †again, †with).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > correspond
answer?c1225
to run together?c1225
agreea1525
correspond1529
respond1563
quadrate1610
analogize1646
homologize1733
begin1862
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 75 Euch anes mede þer ondswerie aȝein þe swing..þet ha her for his luue edmodliche þolede.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 159 Þe zeuen principals uirtues..ansuerieþ to þe zeue vices.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 37 Þe ylondes Orcades, as hit were, answeringe to þe þre cheef parties of Bretayne.
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §10. 22 Whiche bordure is..answering to the degrees of the equinoxial.
a1475 (a1447) O. Bokenham Mappula Angliae in Englische Studien (1887) 10 13 Ther been oþur iii collateralle Ilis, answerynge yn maner to þe iii principalle parties of þis londe.
a1550 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 45 (MED) Everich Burgone doth answer to his owne sead.
1563 J. Shute First Groundes Archit. sig. Diiiv The Proiecture of Them doth answer iustly with the thicknes of the pillor.
1611 Bible (King James) Gal. iv. 25 This Agar..answereth to Ierusalem, which now is. View more context for this quotation
1694 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 18 114 Though the Area answering to the Abscissa be that which is commonly sought, yet the general Quadrature found by his method, is for the most part either greater or lesser.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Marble There are two Defects frequent in Marbles... The one, what they sometimes call Nails, answering to the Knots in Wood.
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Nut, a small protuberance with indentures answering to the teeth of a wheel.
1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xi. 203 The right arm answers accurately to the left, both in size and shape.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. ix. 569 The French have never had anything answering to our yeomanry.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 420 It answers to the description of Strabo.
1889 Harper's Mag. Aug. 409/2 In England M. Duvelleroy answers to this description.
1996 P. Binski Medieval Death iv. 172 The angel who locks up Hell in the Winchester Psalter..answers to the figure of Peter bashing a demon on the snout with his keys, in the slightly earlier New Minster Liber Vitæ.
2011 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 10 June b11 A guy who can steal his team a game, and maybe a Stanley Cup. So far, there's only one goalie in this series answering to that description.
b. transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree, harmonize, or be congruous with [verb (transitive)] > correspond with
answer?a1425
correspond1841
the world > space > relative position > opposite position > be opposite (something) [verb (transitive)]
oppose1615
encounter1660
subtend1670
answer1789
vis-à-vis1839
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 19v (MED) 5 bonez longinous, aunsweryng þe articlez i. þe tooz which bene 5.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Bp. Eusebius in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. vii. xx. 134 So many..as now the number of all sortes can not aunswere.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1090 If thy appearance answer loud report. View more context for this quotation
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iii. v. 204 The terms of our Law..will hardly find Words that answer them in the Spanish, or Italian.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 17 June (1965) I. 365 This place..perfectly answers the Description of the Elysian fields.
1789 P. Smyth tr. H. Aldrich Archit. (1818) 146 Opposite to these..the rooms for the wine presses answered the baths.
1794 R. B. Sheridan Duenna (new ed.) ii. 36 I wish she had answer'd her picture as well.
1827 Christian Advocate Jan. 24/2 This gentleman in his appearance answers the picture of a nobleman.
1870 A. Wynter Curiosities of Toil & Other Papers I. 132 He recognised a gentleman elegantly dressed who most completely answered the appearance of a photographic portrait in his possession.
1902 M. W. Gifford Christian Sci. against Itself viii. 250 She saw and described an old man exactly answering the image that the guilty Saul had vividly in his mind at that time.
1959 ABA Jrnl. Apr. 379/2 When he saw a man answering Hereford's description, alight from a Chicago train and start to walk at a ‘fast’ pace, the agent had personally verified the information given him by Hereford, as the Court saw it.
2001 J. H. Blits Deadly Thought Introd. 16 The play ends with a fatal duel that answers the single combat we hear of at the start of the play.
†35. transitive. With to. To cause to correspond or be compatible. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] > cause to correspond or agree
reciprocate1620
match1680
answer1726
to key to ——1910
to key into ——1931
1726 J. Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 23 He cou'dn't answer to his Fame The Triumphs of that stubborn Dame.

Phrases

P1. to answer the call.
a. To put oneself forward or accept an invitation or summons (from God, one's country, etc.) to assist, defend, or fight for a belief, cause, etc.; to commit oneself to do what is right, honourable, or for the common good; to pursue a vocation. Cf. call of duty at call n. Phrases 6.
ΚΠ
1624 T. Taylor 2 Serm. i. 4 Gods people called out of Babylon, heare and answer the call, and therefore they are not Gods people that stay in Babylon.
1630 T. Taylor Progresse of Saints 382 Effectuall grace, not onely checkes secret corruptions, but daily renewes the heart, and perfects the image of God. Hence it is that many that seemed to answer the call, fall off to nothing, because they were never good.
1654 A. Palmer Scripture-rale to Lords Table 97 A whole Nation of people may take up the Name of Christian..; these are not like Saints by calling; which is, when upon the preaching of the Gospel to them, and the Call of it, they willingly profess to answer the Call of the Gospel, and to give obedience to it.
a1714 J. Sharp Serm. St. Matt. xx. 16 in 19 Serm. on Several Subj. (1734) VI. xix. 488 Many in those Times were called and invited by Christ to believe in him, but few did answer the Call, or accept of the Invitation.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued II. i. 513 Whenever duty calls, provided all possible care and consideration be taken to know its voice, no man need fear that he shall be a loser by answering the call, whatever hard service or costly sacrifice he be put to.
1781 T. Neve 8 Serm. preached before Univ. of Oxf. ii. 36 The most endearing representation that can be made of the Gospel of Christ is, when it is exhibited as the display of Divine Philanthropy, offering life and pardon to as many as will answer the call.
1831 W. W. Currie Mem. J. Currie I. 322 The town of Liverpool was not slow in answering the call of patriotism, and a public meeting was held to consider the best means of raising a body of men.
1867 C. W. Elliott Remarkable Characters & Places of Holy Land viii. 116 All above the age of twenty were capable of bearing arms, and must answer the call.
1923 H. M. Doxsee Getting into your Life-work xiii. 167 If a youth has a marked predilection for any one thing.., there is no question of choosing; his work has chosen him, and, no matter what obstacles stand in the way, he must answer the call that runs in his blood.
1947 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 12 Aug. 25/7 There's a Gold Star that shines in my window tonight For a soldier boy..Who answered the call of the country he loved.
1983 N.Y. Times 14 Jan. a26/1 A budget freeze is alluring... There would be no partisan wrangling over cutting one program but not another. Answering the call to unity and sacrifice, our elected representatives could vote, one and all, to turn back the tide of red ink.
1994 Harper's Mag. May 10/2 He is forever sounding the trumpet or answering the call, constantly urging his fellow citizens forward against the enemies of progress.
2014 Ireland's Eye Mar. 7/2 Though prematurely aged at 48, he was not put out to pasture. In December 1907, he answered the call and returned to Ireland to reorganise the IRB.
b. To provide a solution; to supply what is needed in a particular situation. Cf. sense 31a.
ΚΠ
1909 O. S. Marden Peace, Power, & Plenty i. 7 When the need comes, there is a power deep within us that answers the call.
1915 Bellman 24 Apr. 543 (advt.) Everybody Must Have New Clothes And This Is the Store that Answers the Call.
1996 C. Brookmyre Quite Ugly One Morning i. 2 What this situation had needed..was a..clumsy, thick, ginger-heided bastard to turn up and start cracking duff jokes, and here was PC Gavin Skinner to answer the call.
2003 Canad. Geographic Trav. & Adventure Winter 11/1 Mountain Equipment Co-op..answers the call with 100 percent organic cotton clothing for men, women and children in a range of styles.
†P2. Horse Racing. to answer the question: (of a horse) to respond to a call made by the jockey (cf. to ask (a horse) the question at ask v. Phrases 14). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > actions of horse
to carry weight1734
to get up1840
screw1840
to come again1841
to set to1856
to wait off1856
romp1869
to answer the question1875
compound1876
to gallop to a standstill1892
nick1898
to take up1912
rate1920
1875 Baily's Mag. Nov. 406 On Admiral Rous expressing such a decided opinion on the young one's chance, coupled with the. certainty that the old horse had failed to answer the question which..Blanton had put him, backers were very eager to lay 6 to 4.
1894 Idler June 545 The certain winner of the Derby—if he is able to answer the question I am going to put to him.

Phrasal verbs

With adverbs in specialized senses. to answer back
intransitive and transitive (with the person addressed as object). To make a rejoinder to someone or something authoritative, or where silence or acquiescence would be considered proper; to reply impudently or disrespectfully.
ΚΠ
1827 C. Bury Flirtation III. ix. 334 He gave me abusive language, and called me a gipsy scoundrel, and many hard words that I would not take from him nor no man; so I giv'd him a Rowland for his Oliver, and answered him back.
1856 Dr. Kalley in J. Baillie Mem. Rev. W. H. Hewitson (ed. 6) 139 We call these people ugly names, and they don't answer back; we spit upon them, and they don't get angry.
1904 S. Joyce Dublin Diary (1962) 52 She is obstinate and inclined to answer back a great deal.
1937 F. Stark Baghdad Sketches 172 One who, after many years of patient trampling upon, suddenly answers back.
1965 G. Jones Island of Apples ii. iii. 106 The boys began answering her back and swearing, no doubt they thought they were safe with the river between them.
2002 J. Thompson Wide Blue Yonder ii. 104 Elaine decided to..resist the temptation to answer back.
 to answer over
intransitive. Law (now historical). To provide a modified response to a charge, etc.
ΚΠ
a1638 R. Brownlow & J. Gouldsborough Rep. Diverse Cases (1651) 55 The Plaintiff demurrs in Law to that Plea; and Judgement was given, that the Defendant should answer over.
1687 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 403 Then he was ordered immediately to answer over.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. 397 That the defendant do answer over, respondeat ouster; that is, put in a more substantial plea.
1822 J. F. Archbold Summ. Law Pleading & Evid. Criminal Cases 56 It is a matter of doubt whether judgment against the defendant upon a demurrer to the indictment be not final, and not merely a judgment to answer over.
1852 Rep. Supreme Court Georgia 10 454 The Court sustained the exceptions to the answer, and ordered the defendant to answer over, and counsel for defendant excepted.
1911 J. P. Lamberton Libr. Hist. Characters & Famous Events all Nations & all Ages XI. 350 To this plea there was a general demurrer, which was sustained by the court and defendant was ordered to answer over.
2003 P. Brand Kings, Barons & Justices ix. 256 He subsequently compelled the lord to answer over.
 to answer up
intransitive and transitive. Originally U.S. To answer clearly and boldly; to give (as) a confident response. When intransitive frequently in imperative.
ΚΠ
1848 Mass. Teacher 15 July 214 Shall he be contented if his boys sit up erect, make not too much noise with their boots, and ‘answer up’ well on examination day?
1863 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 107/2 ‘You're ill-pleased, Effie,’ said Margray... ‘Not a speck!’ Effie answered up.
1890 A. Conan Doyle Firm of Girdlestone (1923) xxvi. 204 ‘It makes courting a good deal easier,’ Ezra answered. ‘If a girl will answer up and give you an opening now and then, it makes all the difference.’
1919 E. O'Neill Moon of Caribbees 214 [He picks up the chisel from the table] Yuh see this? Well, if he don't answer up nice and easy we'll show him!
1960 R. Williams Border Country 251 Come on, Will. Answer up.
1971 R. F. Delderfield Theirs was Kingdom ii. iii. 311 ‘Swann? Lieutenant Swann?’, and he answered up promptly, ‘Here sir, next to the guide!’
2005 C. Sawyer Two Voy. I Remember iii. 25 Sully told the crew to answer up and tell what their duties were.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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