Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for AN'SWER
AN'SWER, v.t. [ansur; Sax. andswarian, of anti, against, and Sax. swaran or swerian or swerigan, Goth. swaran, to swear. The primitive sense of swear was merely to speak or affirm; and hence, originally, oath was used after it, to swear an oath; which is not a pleonasm, as Lye supposes, but the primitive form of expression retained. The sense of answer is an opposite, a returned word or speech. Hence we observe the Saxon has andwyrd, antiword, an answer; Goth. andawaurd; D. antwoord; Ger. antwort.]
- To speak in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration or argument of another person; as, “I have called, and ye have not answered.” “He answered the question or the argument.” This may be in agreement and confirmation of what was said, or in opposition to it.
- To be equivalent to; to be adequate to, or sufficient to accomplish the object. “Money answereth all things,” noting, primarily, return.
- To comply with, fulfill, pay or satisfy; as, he answered my order; to answer a debt.
- To act in return, or opposition; as, the enemy answered our fire by a shower of grape shot.
- To bear a due proportion to; to be equal or adequate; to suit; as, a weapon does not answer the size and strength of the man using it; the success does not answer our expectation.
- To perform what was intended; to accomplish; as, the measure does not answer its end; it does not answer the purpose.
- To be opposite to; to face; as, fire answers fire. – Shak.
- To write in reply; to reply to another writing by way of explanation, refutation or justification; as, to answer a pamphlet.
- To solve, as a proposition or problem in mathematics. This word may be applied to a great variety of objects, expressing the idea of a return; as the notes, or sounds of birds, and other animals; an echo, &c.
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