An″swer, n. [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. �, �. See Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-.] 1. A reply to a change; a defense.
At my first answer no man stood with me.
2 Tim. iv. 16.
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.