Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AN'SWER, n.

1. A reply; that which is said, in return to a call, a question, an argument, an allegation, or address. A soft answer turneth away wrath. – Prov. I called him, but he gave me no answer. – Cant. v.
2. An account to be rendered to justice. He will call you to so hot an answer for it. – Shak.
3. In law, a counter-statement of facts, in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alledged.
4. A writing, pamphlet or book, in reply to another.
5. A reverberated sound; an echo.
6. A return; that which is sent in consequence of some petition; as, a blessing is sent in answer to prayer.
7. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation.
8. The reply of a legislative body or house to an address or message of the supreme magistrate.