Answers follow questions.
What is the full meaning of the word answer?
: something spoken or written in reply, especially to a question.: a correct response.
answer (n.)
Middle English answere, from Old English andswaru “a response, a reply to a question,” from and- “against” (from PIE root *ant- “front, forehead,” with derivatives meaning “in front of, before”) + -swaru “affirmation,” from swerian “to swear” (see swear). The proposed etymology suggests an original sense of “sworn statement rebutting a charge.” The meaning “solution of a problem” is from c. 1300.
Remarkably, the Latin expression for answer is made up exactly the same way, from the verb spondere, signifying to engage for, to assure. [Hensleigh Wedgwood, “A Dictionary of English Etymology,” 1859]
A common Germanic compound (cognates: Old Saxon antswor, Old Norse andsvar, Old Frisian ondser, Danish and Swedish ansvar), implying a Proto-Germanic *andswara-.
The simpler idea of “a word in reply” is expressed in Gothic anda-vaurd, (German Antwort).
answer (v.)
Middle English answeren, from Old English answarian “make a statement in reply,” from and- “against” (from PIE root *ant- “front, forehead,” with derivatives meaning “in front of, before”) + swerian “to swear” (see swear), suggesting an original sense of “make a sworn statement rebutting a charge.”
The meanings “conform, correspond” and “be responsible for” are from early 13c; that of “suffer the consequences of” is from late 13c.; that of “respond in antiphony” is from early 15c. The sense of “respond in act or action, give back in kind” is from 1570s; that of “solve, find the result of” is from 1742. Related: Answered; answering. The telephone answering machine was so called by 1961.
I started blogging, looking for answers. I got mine. Read, even if it doesn’t fit. Make it work. Ask questions; you’ll find answers.
WE&Pby: EZorrillaM.
3 responses to “Read, try it on even if it doesn’t fit. Make it work; you’ll find answers”
“Do The Math”
1+1 = 2.
i wish the ones
who know someone
else
looking to become one
with someone
else,
would put 2+2 together.
one is the loneliest number.
even if the solution
remains a mystery,
the thought of them trying
to sum two souls
would make me very happy.
who will it be?
Good morning and thanks for stopping by. Do you know the poem about walking a mile in your neighbor’s shoes? Empathy doesn’t mean molding ourselves, but compassionately noticing our similarities. The answers we seek come from overcoming our differences. Resolving the unresolved. Empathy is 1+1, answers are 2+2. Have a great Sunday.
Added my comment because your piece reminded me of it, an answer I’m still trying to find.