intransitive verb replied -·plied′, replying -·ply′·ing

1. to answer, or respond, in speech or writing
2. to respond by some action to reply to the enemy's fire with a barrage
3. to echo
4. Law to answer a defendant's plea

Etymology: ME replyen < OFr replier < L replicare, to fold back, make a reply < re-, back + plicare, to fold: see ply

transitive verb

noun pl. replies -·plies′

1. an answer, or response, in speech or writing
2. a response by some action
3. Law the plaintiff's answer to the defendant's plea; specif., the answer to a counterclaim