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.).
双语例句
1. He said in reply that the question was unfair.
他回答说这个问题不公平。
来自柯林斯例句
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。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I have received neither an acknowledgment nor a reply.
我未收到任何复函或答复。
来自柯林斯例句
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。
来自柯林斯例句
5. We guarantee to reply in full within 10 working days.