ans

a. [ L. ansatus, fr. ansa a handle. ] Having a handle. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Having the extremities terminate in the heads of eagles, lions, etc.; as, an anserated cross. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L., geese. ] (Zool.) A Linnæan order of aquatic birds swimming by means of webbed feet, as the duck, or of lobed feet, as the grebe. In this order were included the geese, ducks, auks, divers, gulls, petrels, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. (Zool.) A division of birds including the geese, ducks, and closely allied forms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a family name used in some classifications for the swans.
Syn. -- subfamily Anserinae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. anserinus, fr. anser a goose. ] 1. Pertaining to, or resembling, a goose, or the skin of a goose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Pertaining to the Anseres. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. anser a goose. ] Resembling a goose; silly; simple. Sydney Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be or act in return. Hence: (a) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do the strings answer to thy noble hand? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To be opposite, or to act in opposition. (c) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer. (d) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this but answer to my just belief,
I 'll remember you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Prov. xxvii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]