Parry Definition

părē
parried, parries, parrying
verb
parried, parries, parrying
To deflect or ward off (a fencing thrust, for example).
American Heritage
To make a parry or evasion.
Webster's New World
To deflect, evade, or avoid.
He skillfully parried the question with a clever reply.
American Heritage
To counter or ward off (criticism, a prying question, etc.) by a clever or evasive response.
Webster's New World
To ward off or deflect (a blow, the thrust of a sword, etc.)
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
parries
A warding off or a turning aside of a blow, thrust, etc., as in fencing.
Webster's New World
An evasion; evasive reply.
Webster's New World

(fencing) A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
pronoun
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Parry

Noun

Singular:
parry
Plural:
parries

Origin of Parry

  • From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree (“preparation, ceremony, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāta (“preparation, parade"), from Medieval Latin parāre (“to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready"). More at pare. The English verb to parry is taken from the noun.

    From Wiktionary

  • Probably from French parez imperative of parer to defend from Italian parare from Latin parāre to prepare perə-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Alternative etymology derives the verb parry from French parez !, the imperative form of parer (“to fend off"), ultimately from the Medieval Latin parāre. See above.

    From Wiktionary

  • Anglicised from Welsh ap Harri, "son of Henry".

    From Wiktionary

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