answer
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Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
answer¹
- /ˈɑːn.sə/ UK
- /ˈa̝n.sə/ UK
- /ˈæn.sɚ/ Canada, US
- [ˈeən.sɚ]
- /ˈæn.sə/
- [ˈeən.sə]
- /ˈæn.sə/ Australia
- [ˈeːnsə ~ ˈɛːnsə]
- [ˈɐːnsə]
Rhymes with -ɑːnsə(ɹ), -ænsə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
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 rebutting a charge". The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). 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”) (cognate to Dutch antwoord, German Antwort), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).
noun answers · answeare · aunswer · aunswere
- A response or reply; 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 corruption.
- Someone or something that fills a similar role or position. Anti-pornography crusader Mary Whitehouse, who successfully brought London's Gay News to trial recently on charges of "blasphemy," is emerging as England's answer to Anita Bryant.
- A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
answer²
- /ˈɑːn.sə/ UK
- /ˈa̝n.sə/ UK
- /ˈæn.sɚ/ Canada, US
- [ˈeən.sɚ]
- /ˈæn.sə/
- [ˈeən.sə]
- /ˈæn.sə/ Australia
- [ˈeːnsə ~ ˈɛːnsə]
- [ˈɐːnsə]
Rhymes with -ɑːnsə(ɹ), -ænsə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent-
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder.
Proto-Germanic *anda-
Proto-Indo-European *swer-der.
Proto-Germanic *swarjaną
Proto-Germanic *andaswarjaną
Old English andswerian
Middle English answeren
English answer
From Middle English answeren, andswaren, answerien, from Old English andswarian, answarien (“to answer, to respond, to deny an allegation under oath”), from Proto-Germanic *andaswarōną, *andaswarjaną (“to answer, to give a response, to rebut”), from *anda- (“against”) + *swarjaną, *swarōną (“to swear an oath, to answer, to respond”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“face, forehead”) and *swer- (“to 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”).
verb answers · answering · answered · answeare · aunswer
- To make a reply or response to. She answers him as if she knew his mind:
- To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence. to answer a charge or accusation
- 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.
- To be accountable or responsible; to make amends. The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
- 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, Dublin: G. Burnet et al., 1794, Act II, Scene 2, p. 25, Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.
- To be opposite, or to act in opposition. The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]
- To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to. […] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conuenience
- To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute. […] no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
- To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand. He answered my claim upon him.
- To render account to or for. […] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:
- To atone for; to be punished for. […] The noble Brutus / Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: / If it were so, it was a grievous fault, / And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
- To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
