par·ry 
(p
ăr
ē)
v. par·ried, par·ry·ing, par·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. par·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; see perə-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]