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verb (used without object), re·plied, re·ply·ing.
  1. to make answer in words or writing; answer; respond: to reply to a question.
  3. to return a sound; echo; resound.
  4. Law. to answer a defendant's plea.
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verb (used with object), re·plied, re·ply·ing.
  1. to return as an answer (usually used in a negative combination or followed by a clause with that): Not a syllable did he reply. He replied that no one would go.
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noun, plural re·plies.
  1. an answer or response in words or writing.
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Origin of reply

1350–1400; Middle English replien (v.) < Middle French replier to fold back, reply < Latin replicāre to unroll, fold back; see replicate
Related formsre·pli·er, nounun·re·plied, adjectiveun·re·ply·ing, adjective


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6. See answer.

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British Dictionary definitions for reply


verb -plies, -plying or -plied (mainly intr)
  1. to make answer (to) in words or writing or by an action; respondhe replied with an unexpected move
  2. (tr; takes a clause as object) to say (something) in answerhe replied that he didn't want to come
  3. law to answer a defendant's plea
  4. to return (a sound); echo
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noun plural -plies
  1. an answer made in words or writing or through an action; response
  2. the answer made by a plaintiff or petitioner to a defendant's case
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Derived Formsreplier, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Old French replier to fold again, reply, from Latin replicāre to fold back, from re- + plicāre to fold

Word Origin and History for reply



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1550s, from reply (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper