Retort

• a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

• a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem

• the speech act of replying to a question

• the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

• a nonverbal reaction

• react verbally

• respond to a signal

• give the correct answer or solution to

• understand the meaning of

• give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)

• be liable or accountable

• be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

• match or correspond

• be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of

• react to a stimulus or command

• a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

• the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange

• react verbally