answer 
f., answer, =Icel. aitdsvar, annsrar, neut., an- 
swer, response, decision, = Sw. Dan. mixi-ar, 
responsibility, formerly answer), <and-, against, 
in reply, + *swaru, t. (= Icel. svar, usually 
in pi. svor, neut., answer, = Sw. Dan. near, 
answer), < *mcaran (only in weak present nice- 
rum), pret. swor, swear.= Icel. srara, answer, 
respond, = Sw. saara = Dan. scare, answer, re- 
spond, = Goth, swaran, swear, prob. orig. ' af - 
iirm, assert,' with the subsequent implication, 
lost in the verb except in Scand., of 'assert in 
reply': see and-, an-%, andsii'car. Hence answer, 
v . J 1 . A reply, response, or rejoinder, spoken or 
written, to a question (expressed or implied), 
request, appeal, prayer, call, petition, demand, 
challenge, objection, argument, address, letter, 
or to anything said or written. 
A soft aiutwt'r turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1. 
I called him, but he gave me no answer. Cant. V. 6. 
Bacon returneil a shuttling anzit't'i- to the Earl's question. 
Macaulay, Lord Bacon. 
In particular (n) A reply to a charge or an accusation ; 
a statement made in defense or justification of one's self, 
with regard to a charge or an accusation ; a defense ; spe- 
cifically, in law, a pleading on the part of the defendant, 
responding to the plaintiff's claim on questions of fact: 
correlative to demurrer, which raises only questions of law. 
The word as used in equity nearly, and as used in recent 
codes of procedure closely, corresponds to the common- 
law plea. (6) The solution of a problem ; the result of a 
mathematical operation ; a statement made in response to 
a question set for examination : implying correctness, un- 
less qualified. 
2. A reply or response in act ; an act or motion 
in return or in consequence, either as a mere 
result due to obedience, consent, or sympathy, 
or as a hostile procedure in retaliation or re- 
prisal. 
If your father's highness 
Do not 
Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty, 
He'll call you to so hot an answer of it, 
That caves and womby vaultages of France 
Shall chide your trespass, and return your mock 
In second accent of his ordnance. 
Shak., Hen. V., ii. 4. 
And so extort from us that 
Which we have done, whose answer would be death 
Drawn on with torture. Shak. , Cymbeline, iv. 4. 
Specifically (a) In fencing, the return hit. 
I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard, and all, . . . 
and on the answer, he pays you as surely as your feet hit 
the ground. Shak., T. N., iil. 4. 
(6) In fugue-music, the enunciation of the subject or theme 
by the second voice. 
Often abbreviated to am. and a. 
= Syn. Reply, rejoinder, replication, response, retort, de- 
fense. 
answer (an'ser),p. [Early mod. E. also answeare, 
aimswer, < ME. answeren, answaren, andsweren, 
andswaren, onsweren, onsioaren, ondsweren, ond- 
swaren, < AS. andnwarian, andswerian, ondswa- 
rian, ondswerian (pret. andswarode) = OFries. 
ondswera, onswera, onsera = Icel. andsvara, ann- 
svara, mod. anza = Sw. ansvara = Dan. ansvare, 
answer, account for; fromthenoun.] I.intrans. 
1 . To make answer ; speak or write in reply to a 
question (expressed or implied), request, ap- 
peal, petition, prayer, call, demand, challenge, 
address, argument, letter, or anything said or 
written; reply; respond: used with to, or ab- 
solutely. 
Is thy news good, or bad? Answer to that. 
Shak.,JL. and J.,il. 5. 
Lives he? 
Wiltthou not answer, man? 
Shak., A. andC.,iv. 4. 
In particular (o) To reply to a charge or an accusa- 
tion ; make a statement in defense or justification of one's 
self, with regard to a charge or an accusation ; specifically, 
in law, to interpose a pleading responsive to plaintiff's 
allegations of fact : sometimes used to include also the 
interposing of a demurrer : formerly sometimes with with. 
Well hast thou aiutwered with him, Kadogaii. 
Greene. 
(b) To give a solution of a problem ; find the result ; give 
an answer, as to a question set for examination : as, he 
answered correctly in most instances. 
2. To reply or respond in act ; act or move in 
response ; do something in return for or in con- 
sequence of some speech, act, or movement 
from another source. 
Now play him me, Patroclus, 
Arming to answer in a night alarm. 
SAot.,T. andC., i. 3. 
Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? 
Ant. No, Ca:sar, we will answer on their charge. 
Shak., J. C., v. 1. 
Those who till a spot of earth scarcely longer than is 
wanted for a grave, have deserved that the sun should 
shine upon its sod till violets answer. 
Mary. Fuller, Woman in 19th Cent., p. 17. 
Do the strings answer to thy noble hand? Drudi'ti. 
3. To speak in behalf of another ; declare one's 
self responsible or accountable, or give assur- 
ance or guaranty, for another ; be responsible or 
231 
accountable : used with for, rarely absolutely : 
as, I will answer fur his safety; I am satisfied, 
but I cannot answer for my partner. 
Go with my friend Moses, and represent Premium. :unl 
then, I'll answer for it, you'll see your nephew in nil his 
glory. Sheridan, School for Scandal, iii. 1. 
4. To act or suffer in consequence of responsi- 
bility; meet the consequences: with for, rarely 
absolutely. 
Let his neck answer fur it, if there is any martial law. 
Shak., Hen. V., iv. 8. 
Every faculty which is a receiver of pleasure has an 
equal penalty put on its abuse. It is to answer for its 
moderation with its life. Kmtrmn, Compensation. 
5. To meet, satisfy, or fulfil one's wishes, ex- 
pectations, or requirements; be of service: 
with for; absolutely, to serve the purpose ; 
attain the end ; suit ; serve or do (well or ill, 
etc.). 
Long metre aturiversfor a common song, 
But common metre does not answer long. 
0. '. Holmes, A Modest Request. 
6. To conform, correspond ; be similar, equiva- 
lent, proportionate, or correlative in character, 
quality, or condition : with to. 
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man 
to man. Prov. xxvii. 19. 
Sizar, a word still used in Cambridge, answers to a servi- 
tor in Oxford. Swift. 
In thoughts which answer to my own. Whittier, Follen. 
II. trans. 1. To make answer to; speaker 
write in reply to ; reply or respond to. 
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain ; . . . 
And him thus answer'd soon his bold compeer. 
Milton, P. L., i. 125. 
In particular (a) To reply to a charge or an accusation 
by ; make a statement to, or in reply to, in defense or 
justification of one's self with regard to a charge or an ac- 
cusation. 
I will . . . 
Send him to ansuvr thee, or any man, 
For anything he shall be charg'd withal. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., ii. 4. 
(6) To solve ; find the result of ; give an answer to, as to 
a question set for examination : as, he answered every 
question. 
2. To say or offer in reply, or in reply to ; ut- 
ter, or enunciate to, by way of response. 
I will . . . watch to see what he will say unto me, and 
what I shall answer when I am reproved. Hab. ii. 1. 
That ye may have somewhat to answer them which 
glory in appearance. 2 Cor. v. J2. 
3. To reply or respond to in act; act or move 
in response to or in consequence of: either as a 
mere result, in obedience to or sympathy with, 
or as a hostile act in retaliation or reprisal 
against : as, to answer prayer ; to answer a sum- 
mons ; to answer a signal, as a ring at the door : 
hence, to answer the bell, or the door ; to answer 
the helm (said of a ship when she obeys her 
rudder). 
Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd 
blows. Shak., K. John, ii. 2. 
The woman had left us to answer the bell. 
W. Collins, Armadale, III. 205. 
4f. To be responsible for ; be accountable for. 
Answer my life my judgment, 
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least. 
Shak., Lear, i. 1. 
5. To act or suffer in consequence of respon- 
sibility for; meet the consequences of ; atone 
for; make amends for; make satisfaction for. 
And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, 
Lives not to act another. Shak., M. for 41., ii. 2. 
If it were so, it was a grievous fault, 
And grievously hath Ctesar answer'd it [orig. answered for 
it). Shak., J. C., iii. 2. 
6. To meet, satisfy, or fulfil one's wishes, ex- 
pectations, or requirements with regard to; 
satisfy (a claim); repay (an expense); serve 
(the purpose) ; accomplish (the end) ; serve ; 
suit. 
This proud king ; who studies, day and night, 
To answer all the debt he owes unto you. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., i. 3. 
My returns will be sufficient to answer my expense and 
hazard. Steele, Spectator, No. 174. 
But, come, get to your pulpit, Mr. Auctioneer; here's 
an old gouty chair of my father's will answer the purpose. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, iv. 1. 
7. To conform to ; correspond to ; be similar, 
equivalent, proportionate, or correlative to in 
quality, attributes, position, etc. 
Your mind's pureness answers 
Your outward beauties. 
Massinger, The Renegade, iv. 3. 
The windows answering each other, we could just dis- 
cern the glowing horizon through them. 
W. Gilpin, Tour to Lakes. 
8. To meet or confront. [Rare.] 
Thou wert better in a grave, than to answer with thy 
uncovered body this extremity of the skies. 
Shak., Lear, iii. 4. 
ant 
answerable (an'ser-a-bl), a. [< answer + -able.'} 
1. Capable of being answered; admitting of a 
satisfactory reply. 
Unanswerable is a boastful word. His best reasons are 
answerable ; his worst are not worthy of being answered. 
Jeremy Collier, Moral Subjects. 
2. Liable to give an account or to be called to 
account ; responsible ; amenable : as, an agent 
is answerable to his principal. 
Will any man argue that . . . he cannot lie justly pun- 
ished, but is answerable only to God? Swift. 
She's to be answerable for its forthcoming. 
Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, iv. 
3. Correspondent; similar; agreeing; in con- 
formity ; suitable ; proportionate ; correlative ; 
equal. [Obsolescent.] 
It was but such a likeness as an imperfect glass doth 
give o/wiwraWe enough in some features, but erring in 
others. Sir P. Sidney. 
A faire dining-roome, and the rest of y* lodgings answer- 
able, with a pretty chappell. Evelyn, Diary, Aug. 31, 1654. 
This revelation . . . was answerable to that of the 
apostle to the Thessalonians. Milton. 
His Sentiments are every way answerable to his Charac- 
ter. Addison, Spectator, No. 303. 
answerableness (an'ser-a-bl-nes), n. 1. Capa- 
bility of being answered. 2. The quality of 
being answerable or responsible; liability to 
be called to account; responsibility. 3. The 
quality of being answerable or conformable; 
adaptability ; agreement. 
The correspondency and answerableness which is be- 
tween this bridegroom and his spouse. 
Harmar, tr. of Beza, p. 196. 
answerably (an'ser-a-bli), adv. In due pro- 
portion, correspondence, or conformity; pro- 
portionately; suitably. 
Continents have rivers ansu'erablj/ larger than islands. 
Brerewood. 
answerer (an'ser-er), . One who answers; 
in school disputations, the respondent, that is, 
on who takes the initiative by propounding 
a thesis which he undertakes to maintain and 
defend against the objections of the opponents. 
See respondent. 
The Answerer is of opinion, there is nothing to be done, 
no satisfaction to be had in matters of religion, without 
dispute ; that is his only receipt, his nostrum for attain- 
ing a true belief. Dryden, Vet. of Duchess of York's Paper. 
answeringly (an'ser-ing-li), adv. So as to an- 
swer; correspondingly. 
answer-jobbert (an'ser-jpb"er), . One who 
makes a business of writing answers. [Bare.] 
What disgusts me from having anything to do with this 
race of answer-jobbers, is, that they have no sort of con- 
science in their dealing. Swift, Barrier Treaty. 
answerless (an'ser-les), a. [< ansicer + -tess.] 
1. Without an answer; having no answer to 
give. 2. Unanswered: as, answerless prayers. 
3. Containing no sufficient or satisfactory 
answer; offering no substantial reply, while 
professing to do so. 
Here is an answerless answer, without confessing or de- 
nying either proposition. Abp. Bramhall, II. 627. 
4. Incapable of being answered; unanswer- 
able : as, an answerless question, argument, etc. 
answerlessly (an'ser-les-li), adv. In an an- 
swerless manner ; with an insufficient answer. 
Answered indeed ; but, as he said, . . . answerlessly. 
Bp. flail, Married Clergy. 
ant 1 (ant), n. [Early mod. E. ante, ampte, < ME. 
amte, amete, < AS. aimete, osmette (also "emete, > 
ME. emete, emette, emet, E. emmet, q. v.) = OHG. 
dmeiza, MHG. ameize, G. ameise (MHO. also 
emeze, G. emse), ant. Of uncertain origin; per- 
haps < AS. a-, E. a- 1 (also found accented in 
AS. a-cumba, E. oakum), + "maitan (in deriv. 
mettan, (cut, engrave, hence) paint, depict; cf. 
metere, a stone-cutter, and Or. stein-mete, a stone- 
cutter) = OHG. meizan, MHG. meizen, = Icel. 
meita, cut. The lit. sense would then be 'the 
cutter or biter off'; unless the term be taken 
passively, in a sense like that of Gr. lvro/tm> or 
Li.insectum, insect, lit. 'cut in.' The G. form 
is commonly referred (through MHG. emeze, G. 
emse) to G. emsig, MHG. emzic, OHG. emizzig, 
emazsig, industrious, assiduous, which agrees 
formally, but not in sense, with AS. temetig, 
emtig, E. empty, q. v. See mire 2 and pismire.'] 
An emmet ; a hymenopterous insect of the fam- 
ily Formicidce and the Linnean genus Formica, 
now divided into several genera. Ants live in 
communities, and the internal economy of their nest or 
hillock presents an extraordinary example of the results 
of combined industry. Each community comprises males 
with four wings, females much larger than the males 
and possessing wings during the pairing season only, and 
barren females, called neuters, workers, or nurses, desti- 
tute of wings. The females lay their eggs in parcels of 
six or more. The males and females desert the nest and 
copulate soon after becoming perfect ; out the latter are 
