The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Answer \An"swer\ ([a^]n"s[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Answered
   ([a^]n"s[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Answering.] [OE.
   andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr.
   andswaru, n., answer. See Answer, n.]
   1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as,
      to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
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   2. To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or
      question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the
      like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond
      to.
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            She answers him as if she knew his mind. --Shak.
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            So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . .
            And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
                                                  --Milton.
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   3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
      of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like;
      to refute.
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            No man was able to answer him a word. --Matt. xxii.
                                                  46.
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            These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
                                                  --Milton.
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            The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   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.
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                This proud king . . . studies day and night
                To answer all the debts he owes unto you.
                                                  --Shak.
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      (b) To render account to or for.
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                I will . . . send him to answer thee. --Shak.
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      (c) To atone; to be punished for.
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                And grievously hath C[ae]zar answered it.
                                                  --Shak.
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      (d) To be opposite to; to face.
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                The windows answering each other, we could just
                discern the glowing horizon them. --Gilpin.
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      (e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or
          sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.]
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                Money answereth all things.       --Eccles. x.
                                                  19.
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      (f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation,
          or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
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                Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they
                answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
                                                  --Swift.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

answering
    adj 1: replying; "an answering glance"; "an answering smile"
           [syn: answering, respondent]