Meaning

1. to answer; to reply; to respond (to respond, either verbally or in written text)
2. to respond (to react to an action)
3. to answer; to reply; to respond (to give an answer in class to a teacher)
4. to answer; to reply; to respond (to react to someone's action doing the same thing)
5. to answer for; to answer to (to be responsible for something; to face the negative consequences of something; to be accountable before someone)
6. to suit (to be proper or suitable)
7. to cause, to explain, to be the reason for
8. to agree with, to match, to correspond
9. (obsolete) to repeat, to say again
10. (obsolete) to reject, to deny
11. to defend (to stand before court as the defendant)
12. to threaten, to make threats; to get back, to get revenge
13. to charge of, to accuse
14. to speak up (to begin speaking)
15. to express loyalty or subservience
16. to explain
17. to declare war
18. to strike back, to resist (to push back against an attack or assault)