answer
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Etymology 1
From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from Proto-Germanic *and- (“back, in return”) + *swarō (“oath”), from Proto-Germanic *swarjanan (“to speak, swear”), equivalent to and- + swear. Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”). Compare also Old English andwyrde (“answer”), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- (RP) IPA: /ˈɑːn.sə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /"A:n.s@(r\)/
- (US) IPA: /ˈæn.sɚ/, SAMPA: /"{n.s@`/
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Audio (RP) (file) -
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɑːnsə(r)
[edit] Noun
answer (plural answers)
- A response; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
- Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
- A solution to a problem.
- There is no simple answer to curbing corruption.
- Reply to an email. (reply)
- (law) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
response
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solution
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reply to e-mail
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document filed in response to a complaint
[edit] See also
[edit] Etymology 2
From Middle English answeren, andswaren, from Old English andswarian (“to answer, respond, give an answer”), from Proto-Germanic *and- (“back, in return”) + *swarō (“oath”), from Proto-Germanic *swarjanan (“to speak, swear”), equivalent to and- + swear. Cognate with Old Frisian ondswera (“to answer”), Danish ansvare (“to answer, account for”), Swedish ansvara (“to answer, account for”), Icelandic andsvara (“to answer, reply”).
[edit] Verb
answer (third-person singular simple present answers, present participle answering, simple past and past participle answered)
- To make a reply or response to.
- He answered the question.
- To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
- She answered the door.
- To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
- It answers the need.
- 1903: Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, Ch. 41
- Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and "answering every purpose" was one of them.
- (law) To file a document in response to a complaint.
- To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
- 1775: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 2
- I wish she had answered her picture as well.
- 1775: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Act 2, Scene 2
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
to make a reply or response to
to respond to a call
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to suit a need or purpose satisfactorily
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law: to file a response to a complaint
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
[edit] See also
[edit] Statistics
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Most common English words before 1923: written · arms · across · #446: answer · early · saying · talk
