Some squires ponder how to answer (7)
I believe the answer is:
respond
'to answer' is the definition.
('respond' can be a synonym of 'answer')
'some squires ponder how' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'RESPOND' is hidden in the letters of 'squires ponder how'.
(Other definitions for respond that I've seen before include "Answer back" , "Write back" , "Reply - react" , "State in reply" , "React (positively) to a stimulus or treatment" .)