caradea,

although OED doesn't deign to define the word, it can be found therein in the following citation:
A Giltynge, apocrisis, deauracio., which to me suggests that answering your own question is akin to gilding the lily.

also, an apocrisiary is a person appointed to give and receive answers; spec. a papal nuncio.

-joe (on a thursday) friday

p.s. - I can't remember if this has come up before, but Shakespeare didn't coin the phrase "gild(ing) the lily"

To gilde refined Gold, to paint the Lilly; To throw a perfume on the Violet,..Is wastefull, and ridiculous excesse. - John IV; the transposition is fairly modern.