answer vs demur

answer

verb
  • To be opposite, or to act in opposition. 

  • To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence. 

  • To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand. 

  • To be accountable or responsible; to make amends. 

  • To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment. 

  • To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with. 

  • To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily. 

  • To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to. 

  • To make a reply or response to. 

  • To file a document in response to a complaint. 

  • To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute. 

noun
  • A solution to a problem. 

  • A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question. 

  • A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints. 

demur

verb
  • To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk 

  • To interpose a demurrer. 

  • To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair. 

noun
  • An act of hesitation as to proceeding; a scruple; also, a suspension of action or decision; a pause, a stop. 

How often have the words answer and demur occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )