Why is there a ‘w’ in the word ‘Answer’? [closed]

Solution 1:

The w is not the result of purpose but of conventional retention of previous forms. Etymonline.com has “answer” as - Old English andswaru "a response, a reply to a question," from and- "against" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before") + -swaru "affirmation," from swerian "to swear" (see swear), suggesting an original sense of "sworn statement rebutting a charge." Meaning "solution of a problem" is from c. 1300.

More generally, the parallels between the written word and the sound of the word are not rigid, or I could have written “konvennshunal ritennshun”; but I don’t, because I adhere to convention.