ANSWER (3)

An″swer, n. [[OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. �, �. See Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-.]] 1. 1. A reply to a change; a defense.
At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16. 2. 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. 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. 4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem.
5. 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.