Reply
Defined in 5 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Abbott (1879)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
In its general sense, a reply is what the plaintiff, petitioner, or other person who has instituted a proceeding says in answer to the defendant's case. In Code Pleading. The second pleading of the plaintiff, corresponding to the common-law replication. In Trial Practice. The argument of plaintiff in answer to that of defendant. REPONE (from Lat. reponere, to put back).
In Scotch practice. To replace; to restore to a former state or right. 2 Alls. Crim. Prac. 351.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
See Opening and Closing; Right to Begin; Burden of Proof.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
In its general sense, a reply is what the plaintiff, petitioner or other person who has instituted a proceeding says in answer to the defendant's case. Sweet. On trial or argument. When a case is tried or argued in court, the speech or argument of the plaintiff in answer to that of the defendant is calied his "reply." Under the practice of the chancery and common-law courts, to reply is to file or deliver a replication, (q. v.) Under codes of reformed procedure, "reply" is very generally the name of the pleading which corresponds to "replication" in common-law or equity practice.
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
1. Generally, reply is appropriate to a response to an answer. In respect to correspondence, it is accurate to speak of a letter, answer, and reply. 2. In parlance of the courts, the speech of counsel for the plaintiff in a civil case, or for the prosecution in a criminal case, in answer in either case to the points raised by the defence, is generally called the reply. 3. Under codes of reformed procedure, reply is very generally the name of the response made by a plaintiff to the answer interposed by defendant, and corresponds to "replication" in commonlaw or equity practice. It is, however, believed to be necessary only where new matter constituting a counter-claim is interposed in the answer, or where, on consideration of special reasons, the court orders a reply. Where no counterclaim is inteiposed, the cause proceeds as if the matters alleged in the answer were formally denied. The term reply is also undei-stood to have been introduced in the practice under the judicature acts.