X'ANSWER, v.t. ansur.

1. To speak in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration or argument of another person; as, ""I have called and ye have not answered."" ""He answered the question or the argument."" This may be in agreement and confirmation of what was said, or in opposition to it.

2. To be equivalent to; to be adequate to, or sufficient to accomplish the object. ""Money answereth all things,"" noting, primarily, return.

3. To comply with, fulfill, pay or satisfy; as, he answered my order; to answer a debt.

4. To act in return, or opposition; as, the enemy answered our fire by a shower of grape shot.

5. To bear a due proportion to; to be equal or adequate; to suit; as, a weapon does not answer the size and strength of the man using it; the success does not answer our expectation.

6. To perform what was intended; to accomplish; as, the measure does not answer its end; it does not answer the purpose.

7. To be opposite to; to face; as, fire answers fire.

8. To write in reply; to reply to another writing, by way of explanation, refutation or justification; as, to answer a pamphlet.

9. To solve, as a proposition or problem in mathematics.

This word may be applied to a great variety of objects, expressing the idea of a return; as the notes, or sounds of birds, and other animals; an echo, _c.

, n.

1. A reply; that which is said, in return to a call, a question, an argument or an allegation.

A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov.

I called him, but he gave me no answer. Song 5.

2. An account to be rendered to justice.

He will call you to so hot an answer for it.

3. In law, a counter-statement of facts, in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged.

4. A writing, pamphlet or book, in reply to another.

5. A reverberated sound; an echo.

6. A return; that which is sent in consequence of some petition, as a blessing is sent in answer to prayer.

7. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation.

8. The reply of a legislative body or house to an address or message of the supreme magistrate.