E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Answer
is the Old English and-swaru, verb and swar-ian or swerian, where And is the preposition = the Latin re in re-spond-eo. (See SWEAR.)
1
To answer like a Norman, that is, evasively.
2
“We say, in France, ‘Answering like a Norman,’ which means to give an evasive answer, neither yes nor no.”—Max O’Rell; Friend M’Donald, ch. v.
To answer its purpose, to carry out what was expected or what was intended. Celsus says, “Medicna sæpius respondet, interdum tamen fallit.”
3
To answer the bell is to go and see what it was rung for.
4
To answer the door is to go and open it when a knock or ring has been given.
5
In both the last two instances the word is “answering to a summons.” To swear means literally “to affirm something,” and to an-swear is to “say something” by way of rejoinder; but figuratively both the “swer” and the “answer” may be made without words.
6
“… . My story being done, …
She [Desdemona] swore [affirmed] ’twas strange, … .
na sæpius respondet, interdum tamen fallit.”
