1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Answer  \An"swer\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Answered};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Answering}.]  [OE.  andswerien  AS  andswerian  andswarian 
  to  answer,  fr  andswaru  n.,  answer.  See  {Answer},  n.] 
  1.  To  speak  in  defense  against;  to  reply  to  in  defense;  as 
  to  answer  a  charge;  to  answer  an  accusation. 
 
  2.  To  speak  or  write  in  return  to  as  in  return  to  a  call  or 
  question,  or  to  a  speech,  declaration,  argument,  or  the 
  like  to  reply  to  (a  question,  remark,  etc.);  to  respond 
  to 
 
  She  answers  him  as  if  she  knew  his  mind.  --Shak. 
 
  So  spake  the  apostate  angel,  though  in  pain:  .  .  . 
  And  him  thus  answered  soon  his  bold  compeer. 
  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  respond  to  satisfactorily;  to  meet  successfully  by  way 
  of  explanation,  argument,  or  justification,  and  the  like 
  to  refute. 
 
  No  man  was  able  to  answer  him  a  word  --Matt.  xxii. 
  46. 
 
  These  shifts  refuted,  answer  thine  appellant. 
  --Milton. 
 
  The  reasoning  was  not  and  could  not  be  answered. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  4.  To  be  or  act  in  return  or  response  to  Hence: 
  a  To  be  or  act  in  compliance  with  in  fulfillment  or 
  satisfaction  of  as  an  order  obligation,  demand;  as 
  he  answered  my  claim  upon  him  the  servant  answered 
  the  bell. 
 
  This  proud  king  .  .  .  studies  day  and  night  To 
  answer  all  the  debts  he  owes  unto  you  --Shak. 
  b  To  render  account  to  or  for 
 
  I  will  .  .  .  send  him  to  answer  thee.  --Shak. 
  c  To  atone;  to  be  punished  for 
 
  And  grievously  hath  C[ae]zar  answered  it 
  --Shak. 
  d  To  be  opposite  to  to  face. 
 
  The  windows  answering  each  other  we  could  just 
  discern  the  glowing  horizon  them  --Gilpin. 
  e  To  be  or  act  an  equivalent  to  or  as  adequate  or 
  sufficient  for  to  serve  for  to  repay.  [R.] 
 
  Money  answereth  all  things  --Eccles.  x. 
  19. 
  f  To  be  or  act  in  accommodation,  conformity,  relation, 
  or  proportion  to  to  correspond  to  to  suit. 
 
  Weapons  must  needs  be  dangerous  things  if  they 
  answered  the  bulk  of  so  prodigious  a  person. 
  --Swift. 

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