▪ I. parry, n.
(ˈpærɪ)
Also 8 parree.
[f. parry v. Substituted for parade, a. F. parade, ad. It. parata (to which Fr. has no answering *parée).]
1. The act of warding off or turning aside a blow or weapon by opposing one's own weapon or other means of defence; = parade n. 6.
| 1705 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing-Master 7 The Parry for Carte and Tierce is both from the Wrist. 1779 Sheridan Critic iii. i, O cursed parry! that last thrust in tierce Was fatal. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, You were taught the thrust, but not the parry. 1863 G. J. Whyte-Melville Gladiators 31 A fatal thrust.., and irresistible by any parry yet discovered. |
2. gen. The warding off of any attack.
| 1709 Sacheverell Serm. 15 Aug. 11 We may..observe many..Politicians..to act always..on the Reserve,..and hold their Adversaries at a parry. 1801 Mrs. Piozzi Let. in Sotheby's Sale Catal. (1899) 24 Nov. 122 This must be a Severe Parry [Battle of Copenhagen] to the Chief Consul. |
† 3. A fencing-bout; hence, an encounter of wits.
| a 1734 North Exam. iii. vii. §11 (1740) 589 Sir George Jeffries, and one of the Prisoner's Witnesses, had a Parree of wit. |
▪ II. parry, v.
(ˈpærɪ)
Also 7 parie, 8 pary.
[app. repr. F. parez from parer, ad. It. parare ‘to ward or defend a blow’ (Florio), a development of the sense ‘to prepare, make ready’:—L. parāre.
Probably an echo of the F. imperative parez! as a word of command, constantly used in giving fencing lessons.]
1. intr. To ward off or turn aside a weapon or blow by opposing to it one's own weapon or other means of protection.
| 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 139 Excellent at parrying and fencing. 1692 Sir W. Hope Fencing Master 4 To Parie is to put by a thrust or blow, so that you are not touched with it. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Good fencers push and parry at the same time... The Spaniards parry with the poniard. The ancients parried with their bucklers. 1872 Baker Nile Tribut. viii. 116 They never parry with the blade. |
| fig. 1717 Prior Alma iii. 382, I could..With learned skill, now push, now parry, From Darii to Bocardo vary. 1813 M. Edgeworth Patron. (1833) II. xxxiv. 327 Too angry to parry, as she usually did, with wit. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 404 Fancy thrust and Reason parry! |
2. trans. To stop, ward off, or turn aside (a weapon, a blow, etc.) in this way.
| 1692 Sir W. Hope Fencing Master 26 After you have Paried him, you are readier to go to the Parade again. 1705 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing-Master 7 Carte must be parried partly by the Edge of the Foile or Sword: Tierce must be parried with the Flat. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 290, I might as well have attempted to parry a cudgel with a small sword. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown ii. iii, He now fights cautious,..parrying the Slogger's lunging hits. |
b. gen. and fig. To avert or turn aside from oneself (anything threatened); to meet and turn aside (an awkward question, demand, etc.) by an adroit reply; to avoid, evade.
| 1718 Free-thinker No. 90 ¶5 They..retort upon the Aggressour the Injury, which they parry from themselves. 1766 Chesterfield Lett. Godson (1890) 196 Nothing is more usefull either to put off or to parry disagreable and puzzling affairs. 1803 Med. Jrnl. X. 472 The effects of moisture must have been, in a great degree, parried by his labour. 1859 W. Collins Q. of Hearts (1875) 32, I parried her questions by the best excuses I could offer. |
Hence ˈparried ppl. a., ˈparrying vbl. n.
| 1680 Hickeringill Meroz 13 I'le warrant there has been..Parrying and Fencing. 1815 Chalmers Posth. Wks. (1849) VI. 306 He would not trifle or delay or make any parrying with temptation. 1867 Carlyle Remin. II. 26 Argumentative parryings and thrustings. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 165 Estimating what was come of parried thrust. |
Add: [2.] c. With direct speech as obj.
| 1926 D. H. Lawrence in Harper's Bazaar July 122/2 The boy watched the handsome man closely. ‘Why, do you think I oughtn't to?’ he parried. 1936 W. E. Johns Biggles & Co. iv. 99 ‘Well?’ she said abruptly, and Biggles noticed she was a trifle pale. ‘That sounds like a question,’ he parried awkwardly. 1976 B. Freemantle November Man iv. 47 ‘You've a lot on your mind tonight,’ she accused... ‘Have I?’ he parried. |
▪ III. † parry
app. obs. form of perry.
| 1490–1 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 100 Pro ij trowez pro strenyng del parry, viijd. |