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n. a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation n. the speech act of replying to a question n. 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 n. a nonverbal reaction