Etymology From Middle English replyen, replien, borrowed from Old French replier (“to reply”), from the Latin replicō, replicāre (“to fold back”) (in Late or Medieval Latin "to reply, repeat"), from re + plicō (“to fold”); the noun derives from the verb by nominalisation. Doublet of replicate and replica.
1
To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
(intransitive) Please reply to my letter.
(transitive) "Sorry I'm late," replied the student.
1 more example
(transitive) He replied that he was not sure.
2
To act or gesture in response.
Joanne replied to Pete's insult with a slap to his face.
It is a sound to be dreaded until you ascertain that it is being made by friendly forces; even then, your welcome to it must be tempered with some caution, because gunfire usually leads to replying gunfire[…]1988, Emmanuel Doe Ziorklui, Ghana: Nkrumah to Rawlings:
1 more example
[…] bulged the onion bag for the Blades, and Downes and Prendergast replied for the Owls.2012, Steve Cowens, Steel City Rivals:
Etymology From Middle English replyen, replien, borrowed from Old French replier (“to reply”), from the Latin replicō, replicāre (“to fold back”) (in Late or Medieval Latin "to reply, repeat"), from re + plicō (“to fold”); the noun derives from the verb by nominalisation. Doublet of replicate and replica.
1
A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
For example, it is said that someone at a party once asked the famous philosopher Ly Tin Weedle ‘Why are you here?’ And the reply took three years.1986, Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic, published 2022, page 12: