REPLY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Reply

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/rɪplˈaɪ/ /riplˈaɪ/ Listen

noun

Reply n. (pl. replies) That which is said, written, or done in answer to what is said, written, or done by another; an answer; a response.

Synonyms: 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."

verb

Reply v. t. To return for an answer. "Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply."

Reply v. i. (past & past part. replied; pres. part. replying)

To make a return in words or writing; to respond; to answer. "O man, who art thou that repliest against God?"

(Law) To answer a defendant's plea.

Figuratively, to do something in return for something done; as, to reply to a signal; to reply to the fire of a battery.

Synonyms: To answer; respond; rejoin.

See images of 'Reply'

Etymology of 'Reply'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Reply" Quotes from Famous Books

... rather than betray ignorance of the seat of a disorder, it were better, says this writer, to assign it at once to the pancreas or pineal gland. A lady once asked her apothecary, an ignorant fellow, regarding the composition of castor oil, and seemed quite content with his reply, that it was extracted from the beaver. Another patient asked her physician how long she was likely to be ill, and was told that it depended largely on the duration of the disease. A certain doctor, probably a quack, acquired some notoriety ...

— Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery • Robert Means Lawrence

... close to him, and he turned sharply to see Sally Bent go by, carrying a bucket. She smiled generously, and though he knew that she doubtless hated him in her heart and smiled for a purpose, he had to reply with a perfunctory grin. He stalked after her to the little leaping creek and dipped out a ...

— The Rangeland Avenger • Max Brand

... on the other hand, when asked by their clients to state candidly what class of inventions may be relied upon to bring the most certain returns, generally reply that "big money usually comes from small patents". In other words, an invention embodying some comparatively trivial, but yet really serviceable, improvement on a very widely used type of machine; or a ...

— Twentieth Century Inventions - A Forecast • George Sutherland

... rights office forwarded to the services complaints from black servicemen who, despite the highest efficiency ratings and special commendations from commanders, failed to win promotions. "Almost uniformly," the office reported in 1965, "the reply comes back from the service that there had been no bias, no partiality, no prejudice operating in detriment on the complainant's consideration for promotion. They reply the best qualified was promoted, but this ...

— Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965 • Morris J. MacGregor Jr.

... know exactly what reply to make to this remark; but she thought she ought to say something by way of helping along the conversation, so she began, "I suppose it's kind of——" and here she stopped to think ...

— The Admiral's Caravan • Charles E. Carryl

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