1. (n.) The answer of an emperor when formally consulted by particular persons on some difficult question; hence, an edict or decree.
2. (n.) The official written answer of the pope upon a question of canon law, or morals.
3. (n.) A counterpart.
Thesaurus Entries
acknowledgment, amendment, answer, answering, antiphon, appointment, back answer, back talk, backchat, billet, brevet, bull, business letter, chit, comeback, communication, correction, declaration, decree, decree-law, decreement, decretal, decretum, dictum, diktat, dispatch, echo, edict, edictum, editing, emendation, epistle, evasive reply, favor, fiat, ipse dixit, law, letter, line, message, missive, note, ordinance, ordonnance, proclamation, pronouncement, pronunciamento, reaction, ready reply, receipt, recension, rectification, redaction, redraft, rejoinder, repartee, replication, reply, repost, rescription, respondence, response, responsion, responsory, retort, return, revampment, reverberation, review, revisal, revise, revised edition, revision, rewrite, rewriting, riposte, rule, ruling, senatus consult, senatus consultum, short answer, snappy comeback, ukase, witty reply, witty retort, yes-and-no answer
