Also 6 ansurer, aunswerer. [f. as prec. + -ER1.] One who answers.
1. One who replies to a charge, objection, argument or statement.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 1557, 987/1. This good answerer hath here borne himself so wel.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. 22 Pref. Which the answerer … clearly demonstrated.
1714. Shaftesb., Charac., V. ii. (1737), III. 270. Authors who subsist wholly by the criticizing or commenting Practice upon others … distinguish’d by the title of Answerers.
1838. Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. IV. ii. § 30. 38. The Defensio did not want answerers in England.
2. One who replies to a question or appeal.
a. 1556. Cranmer, Wks., I. 66. Your wise dialogue … between the curious questioner [and] the foolish answerer.
1666. Phil. Trans., I. 189. Inquiries that require Learning or Skill in the Answerer.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 188. The best answerer … receives a premium of books.
1866. J. Martineau, Ess., I. 119. Such questions are sure to find answerers.
3. One who answers back, or makes impertinent retorts.
1552. Latimer, Serm. Lord’s Prayer, ii. II. 26. Servants … shall not be murmurers, nor froward answerers.
† 4. One accepting a challenge. Obs.
1511. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 60, I. 182. That every gentilman answerer doo subscribe his name to the Articles.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clvii. 435. The prise of the iustes of the aunswerers … was gyuen to the frenche kynge.
† 5. One responsible. esp. The person answerable to the Court of Augmentation for the rents and profits. Obs.
1539[?]. Plumpton Corr., 234. One farme hold … which … I did speake to the Ansurer for the use of the said children.
