parry

views updated

par·ry / ˈparē/ • v. (-ries, -ried) [tr.] ward off (a weapon or attack), esp. with a countermove: he parried the blow by holding his sword vertically. ∎  answer (a question or accusation) evasively: he parried questions from reporters outside the building.• n. (pl. -ries) an act of warding off a blow. ∎ Fencing block or turn aside (an opponent’s blade). ∎  an evasive reply: her question met with a polite parry.