reply是什么意思

vi. 回答；[法] 答辩；回击

n. 回答；[法] 答辩

vt. 回答；答复

中文词源

reply 答复，回复

来自 replicare,回复，答复，来自 re-,向后，往回，-plic,弯，转，词源同 ply,complicate.

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.).

2. They went ahead without waiting for a reply from the Germans.: 他们没等德国人答复就接着往下推进。

4. Major's reply came as a complete surprise to the House of Commons.: 梅杰的回答让众议院大吃一惊。