Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- an answer to a reply; response.
- Law. a defendant’s answer to a plaintiff’s replication.
noun
- a reply or response to a question or remark, esp a quick witty one; retort
- law (in pleading) the answer made by a defendant to the claimant’s reply
mid-15c., from Middle French noun use of rejoindre (see rejoin (v.2)). Originally “defendant’s answer to the replication” (the fourth stage in the pleadings in an action at common law). For noun use of infinitive in French law terms, cf. waiver.