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Webster 1913 Edition


Reply

Re-ply′

(r?-pl?′)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Replied
(-pl?d′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Replying
.]
[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)
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′

,
Verb.
T.
To return for an answer.
Milton.
Lords, vouchsafe
To give me hearing what I shall
reply
.
Shakespeare

Re-ply′

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Replies
(-pl[GREEK]z′)
.
[See
Reply
,
Verb.
I.
, and cf.
Replica
.]
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.”

Webster 1828 Edition


Reply

REPLY'

,
Verb.
I.
[L. replico; re and plico, to fold, that is, to turn or send to. See apply, Employ and Ply.]
1.
To answer; to make a return in words or writing to something said or written by another.
O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Rom. 9.
2.
In law, to answer a defendant's plea. The defendant pleads in bar to the plaintiff's declaration; the plaintiff replies to the defendant's plea in bar.

REPLY'

,
Verb.
T.
To return for an answer. He knows not what to reply.

REPLY'

, n.
1.
An answer; that which is said or written in answer to what is said or written by another.
2.
A book or pamphlet written in answer to another.

Definition 2024


reply

reply

English

Verb

reply (third-person singular simple present replies, present participle replying, simple past and past participle replied)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
    (intransitive) Please reply to my letter.
    (transitive) "Sorry I'm late," replied the student.
    (transitive) He replied that he was not sure.
  2. (intransitive) To act or gesture in response.
    Joanne replied to Pete's insult with a slap to his face.
    • 1988, Emmanuel Doe Ziorklui, Ghana: Nkrumah to Rawlings
      It is a sound to be dreaded until you ascertain that it is being made by friendly forces; even then, your welcome to it must be tempered with some caution, because gunfire usually leads to replying gunfire []
  3. (intransitive) To repeat something back; to echo.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

reply (plural replies)

  1. A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
  2. Something given in reply.

Synonyms

Translations

Anagrams