n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' pl ī
Function: verb
Inflected Form: re · plied ; re · ply · ing
Etymology: Middle English replien to fold back, oppose, respond, from Anglo-French replier, from Latin replicare to fold back, make a legal replication, from re- + plicare to fold ― more at PLY
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to respond in words or writing b : ECHO , RESOUND c : to make a legal replication
2 : to do something in response specifically : to return gunfire or an attack
transitive verb : to give as an answer
– re · pli · er \ - ' pl ī (- ə )r \ noun