(n.) To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to
answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
(n.) 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.
(n.) To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
(n.) To be or act in return or response to.
(n.) 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.
(n.) To render account to or for.
(n.) To atone; to be punished for.
(n.) To be opposite to; to face.
(n.) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient
for; to serve for; to repay.
(n.) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or
proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
(v. i.) To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a
charge), or in reply; to make response.
(v. i.) To make a satisfactory response or return.
(v. i.) To render account, or to be responsible; to be
accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer
for the money intrusted to his care.
(v. i.) To be or act in return.
(v. i.) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment,
reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum
answers as a manure on some soils.
(v. i.) To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
(v. i.) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or
sufficient; as, a very few will answer.
(v. i.) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation,
correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to
suit; -- usually with to.
(n.) A reply to a change; a defense.
(n.) Something said or written in reply to a question, a call,
an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
(n.) Something done in return for, or in consequence of,
something else; a responsive action.
(n.) A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the
answer to a problem.
(n.) A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a
confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive
declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the
usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill.
