parry

verb

/ˈpæri/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they parry	/ˈpæri/ /ˈpæri/
he / she / it parries	/ˈpæriz/ /ˈpæriz/
past simple parried	/ˈpærid/ /ˈpærid/
past participle parried	/ˈpærid/ /ˈpærid/
-ing form parrying	/ˈpæriɪŋ/ /ˈpæriɪŋ/

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[transitive, intransitive] parry (something) to defend yourself against somebody who is attacking you by pushing their arm, weapon, etc. to one side synonym deflect
- He parried a blow to his head.
- The shot was parried by the goalie.
- He watched the boxers jab and parry.
[transitive] parry something | + speech to avoid having to answer a difficult question, criticism, etc., especially by replying in the same way synonym fend off
- She parried all questions about their relationship.

Word Originlate 17th cent.: probably representing French parez! ‘ward off!’, imperative of parer, from Italian parare ‘ward off’.

noun

/ˈpæri/

(plural parries)

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the act of defending yourself against somebody who is attacking you by pushing their arm, weapon, etc. to one side synonym deflection
- The free kick was well struck but the goalkeeper made a good parry.
the act of avoiding having to answer a difficult question, criticism, etc., especially by replying in the same way
- the thrust and parry of open debate