ὑποκρίνομαι

Etymology
Mediopassive of, from.

Verb

 * 1) to answer
 * 2) to interpret
 * 3)  to dialogue, to answer on the stage; to play a part, be an actor
 * 4)  to feign, to dissemble

Usage notes
The sense changed from "separate gradually" to "answer" to "answer a fellow actor on stage" to "play a part".

In the sense of "answer", the usual word in Attic was.