Answered

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɑːn.səd/

Definitions

1. Provided a response to a question or request that was addressed to someone
2. Gave an answer or reaction when asked or called upon
3. Offered information or a statement in response to an inquiry or prompt

Etymology: This is the past tense of "answer", so the interesting part is the verb's own history. "Answer" came into Middle English as "andswere" and "andsware", descended from Old English "andswaru", a noun built from "and-", meaning "against", and "swaru", meaning "affirmation". The verb "answer" grew from the Old English "andswarian", which meant to respond, and also to deny an accusation under oath. That oath sense is the surprise. The root behind "swaru" is the same one that gives English "swear", so an original answer was a sworn statement that rebutted a charge. Responding to someone, in the legal sense, meant swearing against their claim. The everyday meaning of simply replying grew out of that courtroom setting.

Synonyms: responded, replied

Antonyms: ignored, disregarded