Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Answerable
An′swer-a-ble
,Adj.
1.
Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible;
as, an agent is
answerable
to his principal; to be answerable
for a debt, or for damages.Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is
answerable
only to God? Swift.
2.
Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer.
The argument, though subtle, is yet
answerable
. Johnson.
3.
Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable.
What wit and policy of man is
answerable
to their discreet and orderly course? Holland.
This revelation . . . was
answerable
to that of the apostle to the Thessalonians. Milton.
4.
Proportionate; commensurate; suitable;
as, an achievement
. answerable
to the preparation for it5.
Equal; equivalent; adequate.
[Archaic]
Had the valor of his soldiers been
answerable
, he had reached that year, as was thought, the utmost bounds of Britain. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Answerable
'ANSWERABLE
, a.1.
That may be answered; that to which a reply may be made, usually implying that the answer may be satisfactory; as, an answerable argument.2.
Obliged to give an account, or liable to be called to account; amenable; responsible; as, an agent is answerable to his principal.3.
Obliged or liable to pay, indemnify or make good; as, to be answerable for a debt or for damages.4.
Correspondent; agreeing with; in conformity with; as, the features expressed in a picture are answerable to the original.5.
Suitable; suited; proportionate; as, an achievement answerable to the preparation for it.6.
Equal; correspondent; proportionate; as, the success is answerable to my desires.Definition 2024
answerable
answerable
English
Alternative forms
- aunswerable (obsolete)
Adjective
answerable (comparative more answerable, superlative most answerable)
- Obliged to answer or be called to account (to somebody); accountable, responsible.
- Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is answerable only to God? --Swift.
- (archaic) Correspondent, in accordance; comparable (to).
- What wit and policy of man is answerable to their discreet and orderly course? --Holland.
- 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:
- To this revelation he assented the sooner, as he confesses, because it was answerable to that of the Apostle to the Thessalonians, Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.
- (now rare) Proportionate; commensurate in amount; suitable.
- (rare) Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer.
- The argument, though subtle, is yet answerable. --Johnson.
Derived terms
Antonyms
Translations
obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good
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capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer
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correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable
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proportionate; commensurate; suitable