answer sb. (the foll. uses are somewhat technical)
1.
reply made to a charge, defence, account
2H6 II. i. 201
“call these foul
offenders to their answers,”
Cor. III. i. 176, Cæs. I. iii. 114.
2.
anything done in
return, corresponding or resulting action,
retaliation, punishment
H5 II. ii. 143
“to the of the
law,”
IV. vii. 143
“quite from the answer
of his degree”
(= not bound to answer the challenge of one
beneath his rank),
Cym. V. iii. 79
“Great the slaughter . .
. great the answer”
; in fencing, the return hit Tw.N. III. iv. 308,
Ham. V. ii. 283
“in of the third
exchange.”
