English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From answer +‎ -able.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɑːnsəɹəb(ə)l/, /ˈɑːnsɹəb(ə)l/
  • (file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈæn.səɹ.ə.bl/

Adjective edit

answerable (comparative more answerable, superlative most answerable)

  1. Required to justify one's actions (to somebody); accountable, responsible.
    • 1731, Jonathan Swift, “The Sentiments of a Church-of-England Man, with respect to Religion and Government” in Miscellanies, London: Benjamin Motte and Charles Bathurst, Volume I, Section 2, p. 91,[1]
      Should any Man argue, that [] he cannot be justly punished, but is answerable only to God []
  2. (of a question) Able to be answered.
    • 2013, Marc Moeller, Victor Moeller, Middle School English Teacher's Guide to Active Learning, page 67:
      Is my question answerable on basis of the reading alone or does it go outside the information given in the story?
  3. (archaic) Correspondent, in accordance; comparable (to).
  4. (now rare) Proportionate; commensurate in amount; suitable.
    • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
      [] at my farm
      I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail,
      Six score fat oxen standing in my stalls,
      And all things answerable to this portion.
    • c. 1590 (date written), G[eorge] P[eele], The Old Wiues Tale. [], London: [] Iohn Danter, for Raph Hancocke, and Iohn Hardie, [], published 1595, →OCLC:
      By my other wife I had a daughter, so hard favoured, so foule and ill faced, that I thinke a grove full of golden trees; and the leaves of Rubies and Dyamonds, would not bee a dowrie aunswerable to her deformitie.
  5. (rare, of an argument) Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer.

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