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

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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

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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

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