ANSWERABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does answerable mean? 

• ANSWERABLE (adjective)
  The adjective ANSWERABLE has 2 senses:

1. capable of being answered

2. morally or legally responsible to a higher authority

  Familiarity information: ANSWERABLE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANSWERABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Capable of being answered

Similar:

soluble (susceptible of solution or of being solved or explained)

Derivation:

answer (understand the meaning of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Morally or legally responsible to a higher authority

Context example:

parents are answerable for their child's acts

Similar:

responsible (worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable)

Derivation:

answerability; answerableness (responsibility to someone or for some activity)

 Context examples 

Just so: I think so: and you shall be answerable for it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

However, if my own ignorance in sea affairs shall have led me to commit some mistakes, I alone am answerable for them.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

But, now I know this fellow's answerable for it, and I'll have it!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You are only answerable to yourself, but I have to answer to my superiors.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“For everything of that nature I will be answerable,” said Tom, in a decided tone.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Perhaps there was some truth in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody's reserve, can be answerable for the event.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child," said Mrs. Dashwood; "SHE must be answerable."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Above all, the owner of the soil could still hold his head high as the veritable Socman of Minstead—that is, as holding the land in free socage, with no feudal superior, and answerable to no man lower than the king.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I one day took the freedom to tell his majesty, that the contempt he discovered towards Europe, and the rest of the world, did not seem answerable to those excellent qualities of mind that he was master of; that reason did not extend itself with the bulk of the body; on the contrary, we observed in our country, that the tallest persons were usually the least provided with it; that among other animals, bees and ants had the reputation of more industry, art, and sagacity, than many of the larger kinds; and that, as inconsiderable as he took me to be, I hoped I might live to do his majesty some signal service.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

No: Adele is not answerable for either her mother's faults or yours: I have a regard for her; and now that I know she is, in a sense, parentless—forsaken by her mother and disowned by you, sir—I shall cling closer to her than before.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)