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Added 9 October 2026

answer

/ˈɑːn.sə/ noun

In Latin: respōnsum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about answer at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
A solution to a problem.
There is no simple answer to corruption.
Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.

verb

To make a reply or response to.
He answered the question.
To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
to answer a charge or accusation
To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
She answered the door.

Origin

From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) + swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer-), suggesting an original meaning of "a sworn statement rebutting a charge". The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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