Answer

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In pleading. Any pleading setting up matters of fact by way of defense. In chancery pleading, the term denotes a defense in writing, made by a defendant to the allegations contained in a bill or information filed by the plaintiff against him. In pleading, under the Codes of Civil Procedure, the answer is the formal written statement made by a defendant setting forth the grounds of his defense; corresponding to what, in actions under the common-law practice, is called the "plea." In Massachusetts, the term denotes the statement of the matter intended to be relied upon by the defendant in avoidance of the plaintiff's action, taking the place of special pleas in bar, and the general issue, except in real and mixed actions. Pub. St. Mass. 1882, p. 1287. In matrimonial suits in the (English) probate, divorce, and admiralty division, an answer is the pleading by which the respondent puts forward his defense to the petition. Browne, Div. 223. Under the old admiralty practiœ in England, the defendant's first pleading was called his "answer." Williams & B. Adm. Jur. 246.

In practice. A reply to interrogatories ; an affidavit in answer to interrogatories. The declaration of a fact by a witness after a question has been put, asking for it. As a verb, the word denotes an assumption of liability, as to "answer" for the debt or default of another.
—Voluntary answer, in the practice of the court of chancery, was an answer put in by a defendant, when the plaintiff had filed no interrogatories which required to be answered. Hunt, Eq.

Any defensive pleading other than a demurrer; the usual mode of defense in equity, corresponding to a plea in an action.

Response, reply; defense. Compare Responderb. 1. In the sense of a response to a written or oral communication, see Letter, %; Silence. 3. A statement made in response to a question or interrogation propounded to a suitor, witness, or garnishee, in the course of a judicial inquiry. See further Question, 1. 3. The formal written statement made by a defendant — to charges in a bill in equity, to a libel in admiralty or in divorce. An answer is the most usual defense made to a bill inequity. It is given in upon oath; but where thei-e are amicable defendants their answer may be taken without oath by consent of the plaintiff. This method 10 id. 34 (1848); Lackawanna Iron, &c. Co.'s Case, 87

Any defensive pleading except a demurrer. The usual mode of defence in equity, eorresponding to a plea at law.

In pleading.

In a general sense, any pleading, (except a demurrer, by which the party claims that he is not bound to answer,) framed to meet a previous pleading.

In equity pleading. The most usual form of defence made to a bill in equity; being the defendant's answer in detail, and usually under oath, to the charges which the complainant has made against him in his bill. 3 Bl. Com. 446. 4 Steph. Com. 22. Mitford's Chanc. Pl. 367, [306.] 2 Daniell's Chanc. Pr. 813. 1 Barbour's Chanc. Pr. 130.

pleading in equity, is a defence in writing made by a de- rr fendant, to the charges contained in a bill or information, filed in a court of equity by the plaintiff against him. As a detendant ts called by a bill or information to make a discovery of the several charges it contains, he must do so, unless he ig protected either by a demurrer, a plea or disclaimer. It may be laid down as an invariable rule that whatever part of a bill or information is not covered by one of these must be defended by answer. Redesd. Tr. Ch. Pl. 244. In form it usually begins, Ist, with its title, specifying which of the defendants it is the answer of, and the names of the plaintiffs in the cause in which it is filed as answer; 2d, it reserves to the defendant all advantages which might be taken by exception to the bill; 3d, the substance of the answer, according to the defendant’s knowledge, remembrance, information and belief, then follows, in which the matter of the bill, with the interrogatories founded thereon, are answered, one after the other, together with such additional matter as the defendant thinks necessary to bring forward in his defence, either for the purpose of. qualifying, or adding to, the case made by the bill, or to state a new case on his general traverse or denial of all unlawful combinations charged in the bill, and of all other matters therein contained; 5th, the answer is always upon oath or affirmation, except in the case of a corporation, in which case it is under the corporate seal. In substance the answer ought to contain, Ist, a statement of facts and not arguments; 2d, a confession and avoidance, or traverse and denial of the. material parts of the bill; 3d, its language ought to be direct and without evasion. Vide generally as to answers, Redes. Tr. Ch. Pl. 244 to 254; Coop. Pl. Eq. 312 to 327; Beames Pl. Eq. 34 et seq. Foran historical account of this instrument, see 2 Bro. Civ. Law, 371, n..