Part 477

<blockquote>No man was able to <b>answer</b> him a word. <i>Matt. xxii. 46.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>These shifts refuted, <b>answer</b> thine appellant. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The reasoning was not and could not be <b>answered</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To be or act in return or response to.</def> Hence: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; <as>as, he <ex>answered</ex> my claim upon him; the servant <ex>answered</ex> the bell.</as></def>

<blockquote>This proud king . . . studies day and night To <b>answer</b> all the debts he owes unto you. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> <def>To render account to or for.</def>

<blockquote>I will . . . send him to <b>answer</b> thee. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(c)</sd> <def>To atone; to be punished for.</def>

<blockquote>And grievously hath C\'91zar <b>answered</b> it. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(d)</sd> <def>To be opposite to; to face.</def>

<blockquote>The windows <b>answering</b> each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. <i>Gilpin.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(e)</sd> <def>To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>Money <b>answereth</b> all things. <i>Eccles. x. 19.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(f)</sd> <def>To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.</def>

<blockquote>Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they <b>answered</b> the bulk of so prodigious a person. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Answer</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An"swer</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response.</def>

<blockquote>There was no voice, nor any that <b>answered</b>. <i>1 Kings xviii. 26.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; <as>as, the man must <ex>answer</ex> to his employer for the money intrusted to his care</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Let his neck <b>answer</b> for it, if there is any martial law. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To be or act in return.</def> Hence: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; <as>as, gypsum <ex>answers</ex> as a manure on some soils</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Do the strings <b>answer</b> to thy noble hand? <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> <def>To be opposite, or to act in opposition.</def> <sd>(c)</sd> <def>To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; <as>as, a very few will <ex>answer</ex></as>.</def> <sd>(d)</sd> <def>To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with <i>to</i>.</def>

<blockquote>That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place <b>answer</b> to convenience. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>If this but <b>answer</b> to my just belief, I 'll remember you. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As in water face <b>answereth</b> to face, so the heart of man to man. <i>Pro<?/. xxvii. 19.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Answer</h1> <Xpage=61>

<hw>An"swer</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>andsware</ets>, AS. <ets>andswaru</ets>; <ets>and</ets> against + <ets>swerian</ets> to swear. <?/, <?/. See <er>Anti-</er>, and <er>Swear</er>, and cf. 1st <er>un-</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A reply to a change; a defense.</def>