par·ry (păr'ē)

v., -ried, -ry·ing, -ries.

v.tr.

1. To deflect or ward off (a fencing thrust, for example).
2. To deflect, evade, or avoid: He skillfully parried the question with a clever reply.

v.intr.
To deflect or ward off a thrust or blow.

n., pl., -ries.

1. The deflecting or warding off of a thrust or blow, as in fencing.
2. An evasive answer or action.

[Probably from French parez, imperative of parer, to defend, from Italian parare, from Latin parāre, to prepare.]

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---