entry
answer
/ˈænsər/A reply, solution, or formal response
From O.English / Proto-Germanic and- (against) + O.English / Proto-Germanic swaru / swear (oath).
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
Word Ancestry
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
from Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question,"
This word began life with a little courtroom drama in it. In Old English, andswaru was not just any reply; it was a kind of response pushed back at someone, built from and- meaning "against" and a swear-root tied to solemn declaring. That makes it a cousin to words like swear, sworn, and forswear, which all still carry the smell of oaths and public promises. The surprising part is how that old seriousness survives in modern English: we use answer for a quick text reply, a math solution, and even the document filed in court after a complaint. The word has gone from oath to email, but the bone structure is the same: a statement thrown back across the table.
The Story
This word began life with a little courtroom drama in it. In Old English, andswaru was not just any reply; it was a kind of response pushed back at someone, built from and- meaning "against" and a swear-root tied to solemn declaring. That makes it a cousin to words like swear, sworn, and forswear, which all still carry the smell of oaths and public promises. The surprising part is how that old seriousness survives in modern English: we use answer for a quick text reply, a math solution, and even the document filed in court after a complaint. The word has gone from oath to email, but the bone structure is the same: a statement thrown back across the table.
Modern Usage
A sharp comeback or decisive response
Popularized by: internet slang and social-media banter
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary style usage of answer as a reply or comeback
Kin & Kindred
From 'and-'·against; in return, opposite
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'swaru / swear'·oath; solemn declaration
Derived Terms
English words from this root