reply
pronunciation
How to pronounce reply in British English:
UK [rɪˈplaɪ]
How to pronounce reply in American English:
US [rɪˈplaɪ]
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- Noun:
- a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
- the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
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- Verb:
- reply or respond to
Word Origin
- reply
- reply: [14] Etymologically, reply means ‘fold back’. It comes ultimately from Latin replicāre ‘fold back, unfold’, a compound verb formed from the prefix re- ‘back’ and plicāre ‘fold’ (source of English ply and related to English fold). This came to be used metaphorically for ‘go over again, repeat’ (whence English replicate [16]), and also as a legal term for ‘respond’. In this latter sense it passed into English via Old French replier.=> fold, ply, replicate
- reply (v.)
- late 14c., "to make an answer," from Old French replier "to reply, turn back," from Late Latin replicare "to reply, repeat," in classical Latin "fold back, fold over, bend back," from re- "back, again" (see re-) + plicare "to fold" (see ply (v.1)). Latin literal sense of "to fold back" is attested from mid-15c. in English but is not now used. Modern French répliquer (Middle French replier) is directly from Late Latin. Related: Replied; replying.
- reply (n.)
- 1550s, from reply (v.).
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. The companies didn 't reply to emails seeking comment .
- 2. Mr hague offered a disarmingly honest reply .
- 3. Reply like you would to any invitation .
- 4. A few weeks later I received a reply .
- 5. It took viktor yushchenko several days to reply .