parry
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parry¹
- /ˈpæɹ.i/
Sounds like peary, perry, Perry (all only in accents with the Mary–marry–merry merger) · Rhymes with -æɹi
Where it comes from
From earlier parree, from Middle English *parree, *paree, from Old French paree (“preparation, ceremony, parade”), from Medieval Latin parāta (“preparation, parade”), from parāre (“to ward off, guard, defend, prepare, get ready”). More at pare. The English verb is taken from the noun. Doublet of parade.
Alternative etymology derives the verb parry from French parez, the imperative form of parer (“to fend off”), ultimately from the Medieval Latin parāre. See above.
verb parries · parrying · parried · parree
- To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.). One had to be on one's guard when thus confronted and, in the course of my numerous meetings with him, I had on occasion to exercise all my wits and be prepared at a moment's notice to parry a very awkward question, to which I would much rather have given a considered reply.
noun parries · parree
- A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
- A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.
- A defensive move intended to change the direction of an incoming strike to make it miss its intended target, rather than block and absorb it; and typically performed with an open hand in a downward or sideways slapping motion.
Similar: parade
Parry²
- /ˈpæɹi/
Where it comes from
Anglicised from Welsh ap Harri, "son of Henry".
proper noun
- A surname from Welsh.
- A unisex given name.
- A hamlet in the Rural Municipality of Caledonia, No. 99, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: counterpunch, duck, dodge, sidestep, circumvent, evade, elude, deflect, block, skirt, put off, counter, hedge, fudge, parade, fend
noun
Similar: parade
Translations
Every language
verb avoid, deflect, or ward off
| Español | parar, desviar, rechazar, bloquear, rebatir, baraustar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | かわす kawasu, 受け流す ukenagasu |
| Português | parar |
| Français | parer |
| Deutsch | parieren, abwehren |
| Italiano | evitare, scansare, sviare, deviare, schivare, parare |
| Română | para |
| Русский | пари́ровать parírovatʹ |
| العربية | نَاكَفَ nākafa |
noun a defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying
| Español | parada, guardia |
|---|---|
| Português | parada |
| Français | parade |
| Italiano | parata, deviazione |
| Română | parare |
| Русский | парирование parirovanije |
Talk about this word "parry." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/parry. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. parry. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/parry "parry." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/parry.Cite this
@misc{parry_2026,
title = {parry},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/parry},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
