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. To be or act in return or response to. Hence: (a) 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.
(b) To render account to or for. I will . . . send him to answer thee. Shak.
(c) To atone; to be punished for. And grievously hath Cæzar answered it. Shak.
(d) To be opposite to; to face. The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. Gilpin.
(e) 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.
(f) 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.
ANSWER
An"swer, v. i.
1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26.
2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care. Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law. Shak.