answer vb. (‘reply’, ‘correspond to’, ‘satisfy’, are freq. senses)
1.
to
return, requite
Wiv. IV. vi. 10
“hath answer'd my
affection.”
2.
to atone for
Cæs. III. ii. 86
“grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it.”
3.
to render account of
1H4 IV. ii. 8,
Ham. III. iv. 176
“I will . . . well The
death I gave him,”
Cym. III. v. 42.
4.
to act in conformity
with, obey
Tp. I. ii. 190
“To answer thy best
pleasure.”
