parry
parry Lexical Profile
parry Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An act of warding off or deflecting a blow or weapon, especially a defensive movement in fencing or martial arts.
"With a quick parry and riposte, the fencer scored the winning point of the match."
An evasive or witty reply that turns aside an awkward question, criticism, or argument.
"Her clever parry during the press conference deflected the reporter's probing question without causing offense."
• verb
To ward off or deflect a weapon or blow with a countermove (especially in fencing or martial arts).
"The instructor demonstrated how to parry an incoming strike using the flat of the blade."
To evade or turn aside an awkward question, criticism, or inquiry skillfully.
"The spokesperson managed to parry the journalists' questions about the upcoming merger with practiced ease."
• Rhymes for parry
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from the French imperative 'parez' ('ward off'), from the verb 'parer', which derives from the Italian fencing term 'parare' ('to ward off') and ultimately from Latin 'parare' ('to prepare' or 'make ready').