ANSWER

Definitions

1. 1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
2. 2. 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. She answers him as if she knew his mind. Shak. So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus answered soon his bold compeer. Milton.
3. 3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute. No man was able to answer him a word. Matt. xxii. 46. These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant. Milton. The reasoning was not and could not be answered. Macaulay.
4. 4. To be or act in return or response to. Hence:
5. 5. 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. This proud king . . . studies day and night To answer all the debts he owes unto you. Shak.
6. 6. To render account to or for. I will . . . send him to answer thee. Shak.
7. 7. To atone; to be punished for. And grievously hath Cæzar answered it. Shak.
8. 8. To be opposite to; to face. The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. Gilpin.
9. 9. To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.] Money answereth all things. Eccles. x. 19.
10. 10. To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit. Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person. Swift.