In law, an answer was originally a solemn assertion in opposition to someone or something, and thus generally any counter-statement or defense, a reply to a question or response, or objection, or a correct solution of a problem.
ɪn lˈɔː, ɐn ˈænsɚ wʌz ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli ɐ sˈɑːləm ɐsˈɜːʃən ɪn ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən tə sˈʌmwʌn ɔːɹ sˈʌmθɪŋ, ænd ðˈʌs dʒˈɛnɚɹəli ˌɛni kˈaʊntɚstˈeɪtmənt ɔːɹ dᵻfˈɛns, ɐ ɹᵻplˈaɪ tʊ ɐ kwˈɛstʃən ɔːɹ ɹᵻspˈɑːns, ɔːɹ ɑːbdʒˈɛkʃən, ɔːɹ ɐ kɚɹˈɛkt səlˈuːʃən əvə pɹˈɑːbləm.