self-answering
|self-an-swer-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌsɛlfˈænsərɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌsɛlfˈɑːnsərɪŋ/
provides its own answer
Etymology
'self-answering' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'self' and 'answering', where 'self' comes from Old English 'self' meaning 'one's own' and 'answering' is the present participle of 'answer' (from Old English 'andswaru' / verb 'andwyrdan').
'answer' changed from Old English 'andswaru' (noun) and verbs such as 'andwyrdan' to Middle English 'answeren' / 'answerren' and eventually became the Modern English 'answer'; 'self' has remained from Old English 'self' through Middle English into Modern English, forming the compound 'self-answering' in later Modern English.
Initially 'answer' meant 'a response' (Old English) and this core meaning has remained; the compound 'self-answering' developed to mean 'giving its own answer' or 'needing no external answer.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
providing or implying its own answer; requiring no external reply or explanation; essentially self-evident.
The question was almost self-answering, so the meeting moved on without a debate.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/08 00:18