Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Answer \An"swer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Answered}; 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.

   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.

            She answers him as if she knew his mind. --Shak.

            So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . .
            And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
                                                  --Milton.

   3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way
      of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like;
      to refute.

            No man was able to answer him a word. --Matt. xxii.
                                                  46.

            These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
                                                  --Milton.

            The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   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.

                This proud king . . . studies day and night To
                answer all the debts he owes unto you. --Shak.
      (b) To render account to or for.

                I will . . . send him to answer thee. --Shak.
      (c) To atone; to be punished for.

                And grievously hath C[ae]zar answered it.
                                                  --Shak.
      (d) To be opposite to; to face.

                The windows answering each other, we could just
                discern the glowing horizon them. --Gilpin.
      (e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or
          sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. [R.]

                Money answereth all things.       --Eccles. x.
                                                  19.
      (f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation,
          or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.

                Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they
                answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
                                                  --Swift.

Source : WordNet®

answering
     adj : replying; "an answering glance"; "an answering smile" [syn:
           {respondent}]