reply
Noun · VerbWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- 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”Synonyms: answerresponse
- the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange“he growled his reply”Synonyms: response
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Syn: Answer; rejoinder; response.
Usage: 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." [1913 Webster]
1.To make a return in words or writing; to respond; to answer. [1913 Webster]
O man, who art thou that repliest against God?— Rom. ix. 20.[1913 Webster]
2.(Law) To answer a defendant's plea. [1913 Webster]
3.Figuratively, to do something in return for something done; as, to reply to a signal; to reply to the fire of a battery. [1913 Webster]
Syn: To answer; respond; rejoin. [1913 Webster]
Lords, vouchsafe To give me hearing what I shall reply. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
On Usenet, a posting generated in response to another posting (as opposed to a reply, which goes by e-mail rather than being broadcast). Followups include the ID of the parent message in their headers; smart news-readers can use this information to present Usenet news in "conversation" sequence rather than order-of-arrival. See thread. [Jargon File]
The Jargon File
See followup.