definitions

parry

[ par-ee ]
/ ˈpær i /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR parry ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

dodge, resist, rebuff, rebuke, fence, repulse, prevent, forestall, avoid, sidestep, anticipate, evade, elude, repel, deflect, bypass, duck, shun, shirk, preclude

Nearby words

parrot's-bill, parrot's-feather, parrot-fashion, parrot-fish, parrotfish, parry, parry channel, parry islands, parry's disease, pars, pars amorpha

Origin of parry

1665–75; < French parez, imperative of parer to ward off, set off < Latin parāre to set. See parade
Related formspar·ri·a·ble, adjectivepar·ri·er, nounun·par·ried, adjectiveun·par·ry·ing, adjective

Definition for parry (2 of 2)

Parry

[ par-ee ]
/ ˈpær i /

noun

Milman,1902–35, U.S. classical scholar and philologist.
William Edward,1790–1855, English arctic explorer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for parry

British Dictionary definitions for parry (1 of 2)

parry

/ (ˈpærɪ) /

verb -ries, -rying or -ried

to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing
(tr) to evade (questions), esp adroitly

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

Word Origin for parry

C17: from French parer to ward off, from Latin parāre to prepare

British Dictionary definitions for parry (2 of 2)

Parry

/ (ˈpærɪ) /

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)
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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper