2. Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Prov. xv. 1.
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
Cant. v. 6.
3. Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action.
Great the slaughter is
Here made by the Roman; great the answer be
Britons must take.
Shak.
4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem.
5. (Law) 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. Bouvier.
Syn. — Reply; rejoinder; response. See Reply.
Answerable
(An"swer*a*ble) a.
1. Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible; as,
an agent is answerable to his principal; to be answerable for a debt, or for damages.
Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is answerable only to God?
Swift.
2. Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer.
The argument, though subtle, is yet answerable.
Johnson.
3. Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable.
What wit and policy of man is answerable to their discreet and orderly course?
Holland.
This revelation . . . was answerable to that of the apostle to the Thessalonians.
Milton.
4. Proportionate; commensurate; suitable; as, an achievement answerable to the preparation for it.
5. Equal; equivalent; adequate. [Archaic]
Had the valor of his soldiers been answerable, he had reached that year, as was thought, the utmost
bounds of Britain.
Milton.
Answerableness
(An"swer*a*ble*ness), n. The quality of being answerable, liable, responsible, or correspondent.
Answerably
(An"swer*a*bly) adv. In an answerable manner; in due proportion or correspondence; suitably.
Answerer
(An"swer*er) n. One who answers.
Answerless
(An"swer*less) a. Having no answer, or impossible to be answered. Byron.
An 't
(An 't) An it, that is, and it or if it. See An, conj. [Obs.]
An't
(An't) A contraction for are and am not; also used for is not; — now usually written ain't. [Colloq.
& illiterate speech.]
Ant-
(Ant-). See Anti-, prefix.
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