reply
    n 1: 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" [syn: answer, reply,
         response]
    2: the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he
       growled his reply" [syn: reply, response]
    v 1: react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the
         question"; "We answered that we would accept the
         invitation" [syn: answer, reply, respond]

Reply \Re*ply"\, n.; pl. Replies (-pl?z"). [See Reply, v.
   i., and cf. Replica.]
   That which is said, written, or done in answer to what is
   said, written, or done by another; an answer; a response.
   [1913 Webster]

   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]

Reply \Re*ply"\ (r?-pl?"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Replied
   (-pl?d"); p. pr. & vb. n. Replying.] [OE. replien, OF.
   replier, F. r['e]pliquer, fr. L. replicare to fold back, make
   a reply; pref. re- re- + plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf.
   Replica.]
   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]

Reply \Re*ply"\, v. t.
   To return for an answer. --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

         Lords, vouchsafe
         To give me hearing what I shall reply.   --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

reply
 n.

    See followup.

followup
reply

   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]