SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN verb (used with object), par·ried, par·ry·ing. to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert.
to turn aside; evade or dodge: to parry an embarrassing question.
verb (used without object), par·ried, par·ry·ing. to parry a thrust, blow, etc.
noun, plural par·ries. an act or instance of parrying, as in fencing.
a defensive movement in fencing.
Origin of parry 1665–75; <
French parez, imperative of
parer to ward off, set off <
Latin parāre to set. See
parade Related forms par·ri·a·ble , adjective par·ri·er , noun un·par·ried , adjective un·par·ry·ing , adjective noun Milman, 1902–35, U.S. classical scholar and philologist.
William Edward, 1790–1855, English arctic explorer.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for parry dodge ,
resist ,
rebuff ,
rebuke ,
fence ,
repulse ,
prevent ,
forestall ,
avoid ,
sidestep ,
anticipate ,
evade ,
elude ,
repel ,
deflect ,
bypass ,
duck ,
shun ,
shirk ,
preclude Examples from the Web for parry Contemporary Examples of parry Critics like Parry Aftab argue that these sites are essentially conduits for bullying.
The Falklands gets mentioned on page three; there is music by Elgar (of course) and Parry .
Parry acknowledged that the Krim tragedy has provoked anxiety among parents.
Think like a fencer: parry on Medicare; lunge at the stimulus.
“There needs to be long-term investment and a comprehensive plan for creating sustainable economic viability,” says Parry .
Historical Examples of parry She could not parry the question as she had done before, and it probed depths.
Now this was a home-thrust, George, which I could not parry off.
It was cut and parry and stab as quick as eye could see or hand act.
But it would never have occurred to me to parry her queries.
And such they were, when the first thrust and parry told that the work had begun.
British Dictionary definitions for parry verb -ries , -rying or -ried to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing
(tr) to evade (questions), esp adroitly
Show More
noun plural -ries an act of parrying, esp (in fencing) using a stroke or circular motion of the blade
a skilful evasion, as of a question
Show More
Word Origin for parry C17: from French parer to ward off, from Latin parāre to prepare
noun Sir (Charles ) Hubert (Hastings ). 1848–1918, English composer, noted esp for his choral works
Sir William Edward. 1790–1855, English arctic explorer, who searched for the Northwest Passage (1819–25) and attempted to reach the North Pole (1827)
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for parry v. 1630s, from French parez! (which commonly would have been heard in fencing lessons), imperative of parer "ward off," from Italian parare "to ward or defend a blow" (see para- (2)). Related: Parried ; parrying . Non-fencing use is from 1718. The noun is 1705, from the verb.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
