answer

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a nonverbal reaction

   Your answer to any problem was to get drunk.

2. 2
   noun

   a written or spoken statement that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

   I waited several days for your answer.

3. 3
   verb

   to give the correct answer or solution to

   I answered all the questions on the test.

4. 4
   verb

   to react to a stimulus or command

   The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch.

5. 5
   verb

   to give a defence or refutation of a charge or in an argument

   The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution.

6. 6
   verb

   to match or correspond

   The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave.

7. 7
   verb

   to be sufficient

   This answers our requirements completely.

8. 8
   verb

   to be liable or accountable

   They must answer for their actions.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-Indo-European *swer-der. Proto-Germanic *swarō Proto-Germanic *andaswarō Proto-West Germanic *andaswaru Old English andswaru Middle English answere English answer From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) + swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer-), suggesting an original meaning of "a sworn statement rebutti…