Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Reply, -pley, v.¹ Also: -plye. [ME and e.m.E. replye(n, repplye(n (Chaucer), OF replier (early 13th c. in Larousse) to fold again, turn back, reply, L. replicāre Replic v.]

1. intr. a. To answer or respond. b. To make counter-answer (in a formal argument). c. specif. In a law-suit: To answer the plea of a defender. Cf. Reply n.a. c1500 Fyve Bestes 14.
So quhen thir theifis all war justifyed Than euerilk brother for him self replyid 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 89.
The squire replyed in a chaff, He girn'd so, that he seem'd to laffb. 1456 Hay I 222/12.
The clerk ansueris replyand sayand, Gude schir [etc.] Ib. 280/14.
The Duche knycht replyis agayn [etc.] 1570–1 Bann. Memor. 99.
[Johne Knox his Ansuer] I haue laid my compt … Lat thaim reply [Trans. replye], gif ather thai can or darc. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2685.
His aduersar … [should be] summond … For to propone, contrairie, or [Bann. and contra and] reply 1531 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 51.
Replyit the said Thomas Scot proloquitor for the said David … allegeand at the exceptione proponit … suld nocht be admittit 1569 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lix.
To ansuer thairto in forme of law for ws exceptionis, … to propone reply duply and vther defences(b) 1504 Stirling Chart. 68.
Committand to … our commissioneris … charge … till obiect, except, and aganesay, to repley, dupley, tripley, and quadrupley 1508–9 Ib. 74. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 224.
The defenders … haveing repleyed upon ane inhibition, … the lords fand it not sufficient

d. Also, tr. in sense c. 1663 Decis. Lords G. 44.
It was replied, … duplied, that … triplied, that … quadruplied, that the confirmation being past [etc.]

2. tr. To submit as an answer or reply, in speech or writing. 1562-3 Winȝet I 2/15.
Togidder with thre wryttingis … quhairin is replyit aganis his ansueris maid to ane part of the said thre questionis 1592 Mining Rec. 69.
It is replyit thairto that I wes never hinder to ony man quha wald haif worcht vpoun ressonabill conditionis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 72.
The bishop replyit, that the preist … synnit to revele any confessioun 1615 Sciennes Conv. lxi.
It was repleyed be the said laird of Merchistoune that the samyn wes ane layk patronag 1659 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 248.
Iff it bee replyed that [etc.]