返かえり言ごと

noun

message brought back home by a messenger

Archaic noun referring to a message a messenger delivers upon returning home. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 昔むかしの使つかいは、帰かえりに返かえり言ごとを伝つたえた。

  In old times, a messenger would convey a return message on the way back.

noun

reply; ode in reply

Archaic; could refer to a verbal reply or a poem composed in response. The 'ode in reply' sense is a specific literary use.

• 歌うた会かいで、彼かれは返かえり言ごととして和わ歌かを詠よんだ。

  At the poetry gathering, he composed a waka as a reply poem.

noun

return gift

Archaic; a gift given in return, similar to お返し. Related to お返し sense 1.

See also: お返し

• 中ちゅう世せいの贈ぞう答とうでは、返かえり言ごととして品しな物ものを贈おくることがあった。

  In medieval gift exchange, they sometimes gave an item as a return gift.