a.; also 6 aunswerable. [f. ANSWER v. and sb. + -ABLE (an early instance of this as a living Eng. suffix).]
I. Liable to answer to a charge.
1. Liable to be called to account; under legal or moral obligation; responsible, accountable. a. absol. or with subord. cl.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 571. If he haue robb’d these men, He shall be answerable.
1601. F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Ed. II., § 12 (1876), 12. He shalbe aunswerable if any peril happen.
1781. T. Pickering, in Sparks, Corr. Am. Rev. (1853), III. 419. He was answerable with his head, if the King’s army were not duly supplied.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, I. 105. I will be answerable that this galliard meant but some Saint Valentine’s jest.
b. to an authority.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Hebr. xii. (R.). You must nedes be answerable vnto your hie prieste and his lawe.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 75. The Committie ordaines Barquhillantie … to be answerable to the Commissar Depute.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 239. I imagined I should be answerable to myself for every accident that might befal them.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xiii. 277. For the good administration of which the magistrate … was answerable to the power which appointed him.
c. for an act or its results, a debt, or any implied duty or obligation.
a. 1667. Jer. Taylor, Serm., Ded. He is highly answerable for his talent.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 378. Mr. B. … at least is answerable for the Language of his Book.
1722. De Foe, Moll Fl. (1840), 178. She would be answerable for her on all accounts.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 459. The ship and tackle … are answerable (as well as the person of the borrower) for the money lent.
1837. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 3), I. ii. 25. Both Scripture and conscience tell us we are answerable for what we do.
1863. Kemble, Resid. Georgia, 24. Slavery is answerable for all the evils.
II. Capable of answering requirements, purposes.
2. Such as responds to demands, needs, wishes; suitable, fitting, proper, becoming. a. absol. arch.
1571. Digges, Geom. Pract., IV. xxiv. E e iij. Ye shall there in his answerable Chapiter, receiue rules for the inuention of his capacitie superficiall.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 102. If he who hath any answerable nature, giue himselfe to make verses.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II/740. Attended with an answerable train, in rich Liveries.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 47. His reception was answerable.
1828. Carlyle, Misc., I. (1857), 193. The most answerable things in the world.
b. with to. arch.
1575. Thynne, in Animadv., Introd. 54. Thee performance wherof shall … bee … answerable unto your callinge, and profitable unto mee.
1628. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., II. (1688), 228. A Guard answerable to his Royal Dignity.
1658. J. Rowland, Mouffet’s Theat. Ins., 907. A death answerable to his life.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxxii. 311. Her treatment … was not answerable to her merits.
3. Corresponding, correspondent, accordant, agreeable. a. absol. arch.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1590), I. xvi. 71. A likenesse … aunswerable enough in some feitures, & colors, but erring in others.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 12 (1619), 467. The Gospel bringeth saluation, but looketh for an answerable returne.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., II. i. 4. Humility—a mean estimation of ourselves and an answerable Carriage towards others.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 90. If the seasons have been answerable … the old women pay their reputed prophet.
1837. Hare, Gues. Truth (1859), 264. It is a difficulty which presses on all such as have ever made a venture into the higher regions of thought, to discover anything like answerable realities,—to atone their ideas with their perceptions.
b. with to. arch.
1580. Lyly, Euphues, 252. If the courtesie of Englande be aunswerable to the custome of Pilgrimes.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. i. § 1. 30. I feare your proceedings will be answerable to these beginnings!
1718. Free-thinker, No. 80. 177. Some young Princess whose Birth is answerable to your own.
1869. A. J. Morris, Open Secret, i. 13. They [the themes] are … too momentous to be introduced into common and familiar talk in a manner answerable to their sacredness and solemnity.
4. Corresponding in quantity or amount; proportional, commensurate. a. absol. arch.
1604. Edmonds, Observ. Cæsar’s Comm., 7. Eminent and extraordinarie attempts … are thought worthie their answerable rewards.
1622. Heylin, Cosmogr., II. (1682), 49. Stretched out in great length … but not of answerable breadth.
a. 1716. South, Wks., 1717, VI. 400. But their success was answerable.
b. with to.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Lond. to Hamburgh, C. His post-like legges were answerable to the rest of the great frame which they supported.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., 78. With a thickness answerable to their height.
1769. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc. (1876), 314. Render your future progress answerable to your past improvement.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch., II. xiv. (1858), 300. The success of their labours was answerable to the purity of their motives.
5. Equivalent, equal; adequate, sufficient (to). arch.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 909. This word Reward … the schoolemen, doe fondly set it to be aunswerable to a deseruing which they call merite.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., I. xii. (ed. 7), 37. One whole Integrum, which being added to 2344, will be answerable to the second number of the Question.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 5. An answerable number of men and angels.
1801. Wellington, Desp., 613. The revenue of that Island will [not] be found answerable to its necessary expenditure.
† 6. quasi-adv. Answerably; conformably. Obs.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 6. That they may be … punished answerable to thair deservings.
1681. Manton, Serm., Ps. cxix. 166, Wks. IX. 226. Live answerable to your hope.
III. passively.
7. Able to be answered. rare.
1697. J. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj. (L.). His best reasons are answerable; his worst are not worthy of being answered.
1881. Spectator, 19 Nov., 1456/1. An Austrian statesman … suggests solid, if answerable, reasons for fear the M. Gambetta may [etc.].
