REPLY
answer, reply, response
(noun) a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; “I waited several days for his answer”; “he wrote replies to several of his critics”
reply, response
(noun) the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; “he growled his reply”
answer, reply, respond
(verb) react verbally; “She didn’t want to answer”; “answer the question”; “We answered that we would accept the invitation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
reply (third-person singular simple present replies, present participle replying, simple past and past participle replied)
(transitive, intransitive) To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
(intransitive) To act or gesture in response.
(intransitive) To repeat something back; to echo.
Synonyms
• respond, answer, retort, answer back, react, rejoin, counter, return, revert, follow up, get back to
Noun
reply (plural replies)
A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
Something given in reply.
A counterattack.
(music) The answer of a figure.
(US, legal) A document written by a party specifically replying to a responsive declaration and in some cases an answer.
Synonyms
• answer, comeback, response, retort, return, account, rejoinder, riposte, reaction
Anagrams
• lepry, plyer
Source: Wiktionary
Re*ply" (r-pl"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Replied (-pld"); p. pr. & vb. n.
Replying.] Etym: [OE. replien, OF. replier, F. répliquer, fr. L.
replicare to fold back, make a reply; pref. re- re- + plicare to
fold. See Ply, and cf. Replica.]
1. To make a return in words or writing; to respond; to answer.
O man, who art thou that repliest against God Rom. ix. 20.
2. (Law)
Definition: To answer a defendant's plea.
3. Figuratively, to do something in return for something done; as, to
reply to a signal; to reply to the fire of a battery.
Syn.
– To answer; respond; rejoin.
Re*ply", v. t.
Definition: To return for an answer. Milton.
Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. Shak.
Re*ply", n.; pl. Replies (-pl. Etym: [See Reply, v. i., and cf.
Replica.]
Definition: That which is said, written, or done in answer to what is said,
written, or done by another; an answer; a response.
Syn.
– Answer; rejoinder; response.
– Reply, Rejoinder, Answer. A reply is a distinct response to a
formal question or attack in speech or writing. A rejoinder is a
second reply (a reply to a reply) in a protracted discussion or
controversy. The word answer is used in two senses, namely (1), in
the most general sense of a mere response; as, the answer to a
question; or (2), in the sense of a decisive and satisfactory
confutation of an adversary's argument, as when we speak of a
triumphant answer to the speech or accusations of an opponent. Here
the noun corresponds to a frequent use of the verb, as when we say.
"This will answer (i.e., fully meet) the end in view;" "It answers
the purpose."
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition