Parry

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpæɹi/

Definitions

1. To skillfully deflect or block an opponent's weapon or attack ; to evade or dodge a direct response to a question or accusation
2. To turn aside or fend off an assault in combat ; to sidestep giving a clear answer when questioned
3. To ward off a blow or strike usually with a weapon ; to avoid confronting a query by steering away from a straight reply

Etymology: Parry comes from a Latin verb meaning "to prepare," and its earliest sense in English was about preparation rather than fending off blows. The Latin "parāre" gave Medieval Latin "parāta," meaning a preparation or a showy display, and Old French turned that into "paree," a word for a ceremony or parade. English borrowed it as a noun in the form "parree," and the verb came later, taken from that noun. So the familiar act of deflecting a sword is a sense that grew out of getting ready. The link to "parade" is closer than it looks. Parry and parade are doublets, two English words descended from the same Medieval Latin source by different routes, one through the noun's ceremonial sense and the other through a later French form. The shared root also explains why the verb's defensive meaning feels so natural: to parry is to get yourself into position before the blow lands.

Synonyms: deflect, repel, counter, dodge, avoid

Antonyms: attack, confront, engage, assault, strike