Where does “reply” come from?
Reply derives from Middle English replyen, from Old French replier, from Latin replicāre meaning to fold back, formed from the prefix re- and Latin pellere meaning to drive or fold.
reply (English): To give a written or spoken response, especially...
Definitions
- To give a written or spoken response, especially...
Ancestry of “reply”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | replyen | — |
| 2 | Old French | replier | Alternative form of reploier; to reply |
| 3 | Latin | replicō | to turn, fold or bend back |
| 4 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 5 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 6 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |