Answer
/ˈæn.sər/noun
A spoken or written response to a question, request, or challenge.
Did you know?In Old English, *andswaru* was tied to formal reply and defense, and the same ancient root also lives in words like *swear* and *forswear*, where speech itself becomes a binding force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swer-
“to speak, say”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*andaswarō
“a reply, an answer”
Old English
OE
andswaru
“a reply or response”
Middle English
ME
answere
“a reply, response, or rebuttal”
Modern English
English
answer
“a reply to a question, letter, or request”
Explore more surprising origins