Retort vs Reply - What's the difference?
retort | reply |
A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.
To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
*{{quote-book, year=1905, author=
, title=
, chapter=1 To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.
* Milton
To bend or curve back.
* Southey
To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.
* Shakespeare
(chemistry) A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.
:* 1893', A large curved ' retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litre measure. — Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Naval Treaty’ (Norton 2005, p.670)
A container in which material is subjected to high temperatures]] as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and [[forge, forging of metal.
(intransitive) To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
To act or gesture in response.
* 1988 , Emmanuel Doe Ziorklui, Ghana: Nkrumah to Rawlings
To repeat something back; to echo.
A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
Something given in reply.
Reply is a synonym of retort.
As nouns the difference between retort and reply
is that retort is a sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback while reply is a written or spoken response; part of a conversation.As verbs the difference between retort and reply
is that retort is to say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation while reply is to give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.retort
English
(wikipedia retort)Etymology 1
From (etyl) retortus, from .Noun
(en noun)Verb
(en verb)citation, passage=“It is a pity,” he retorted with aggravating meekness, “that they do not use a little common sense. The case resembles that of Columbus' ?egg, and is every bit as simple. […]”}}
- to retort the charge of vanity
- And with retorted scorn his back he turned.
- a retorted line
- With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.
- As when his virtues, shining upon others, / Heat them and they retort that heat again / To the first giver.
Synonyms
* (sharp reply) comeback, rejoinder, back answerEtymology 2
From (etyl) retorte.Noun
(en noun)Anagrams
* English reporting verbsreply
English
Verb
(en-verb)- Please reply to my letter.
- "Sorry I'm late," replied the student.
- He replied that he was not sure.
- Joanne replied to Pete's insult with a slap to his face.
- It is a sound to be dreaded until you ascertain that it is being made by friendly forces; even then, your welcome to it must be tempered with some caution, because gunfire usually leads to replying gunfire