parry

¹

[par-ee]

verb (used with object)

parried, parrying 

1. to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert.

2. to turn aside; evade or dodge.

   to parry an embarrassing question.

   Synonyms: preclude, obviate, prevent, elude, avert

verb (used without object)

parried, parrying 

1. to parry a thrust, blow, etc.

noun

plural

parries 

1. an act or instance of parrying, as in fencing.

2. a defensive movement in fencing.

Parry

²

[par-ee]

noun

1. Milman, 1902–35, U.S. classical scholar and philologist.

2. William Edward, 1790–1855, English Arctic explorer.

parry

¹

/ ˈpærɪ /

verb

1. to ward off (an attack) by blocking or deflecting, as in fencing

2. (tr) to evade (questions), esp adroitly

noun

1. an act of parrying, esp (in fencing) using a stroke or circular motion of the blade

2. a skilful evasion, as of a question

Parry

²

/ ˈpærɪ /

noun

1. Sir ( Charles ) Hubert ( Hastings ). 1848–1918, English composer, noted esp for his choral works

2. Sir William Edward. 1790–1855, English arctic explorer, who searched for the Northwest Passage (1819–25) and attempted to reach the North Pole (1827)

Other Word Forms

• parriable adjective
• parrier noun
• unparried adjective
• unparrying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parry¹

1665–75; < French parez, imperative of parer to ward off, set off < Latin parāre to set. See parade

Word History and Origins

Origin of parry¹

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

Example Sentences

Then we decide whether to dodge, parry, or counterattack.

Read more on Literature

Russian officials worried that U.S. missile defenses made a pre-emptive strike on Russia more conceivable for Washington, as they would allow it to parry any retaliatory strike.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The precocious girls soon cotton on to the headmistress’s ruse and parry her appeals to dish on Miss Brodie.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The spot-kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment inside the area and Haaland struck his second effort the opposite direction, only for it to be parried away again by Peretz.

Read more on Barron's

Fifty minutes into her deposition, after parrying questions and defending herself against the court's doubts, Mamta's composure faltered for the first time.

Read more on BBC