parrypar‧ry /ˈpæri/ verb (past tense and past participle parried, present participle parrying, third person singular parries) 
Word Origin Examples
It is far easier to parry a direct blow than to stop it forcibly.2[transitive] to avoid answering a question that is difficult to answer or that someone does not want to answer: He parried all her questions about his work.—parry noun [countable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINparry
Verb TableOrigin:
1600-1700 Probably from French parez! ‘prepare!’, from parer; ➔ PAREVERB TABLE
parry
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | parry |
| he, she, it | parries | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | parried |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have parried |
| he, she, it | has parried | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had parried |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will parry |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have parried |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am parrying |
| he, she, it | is parrying | |
| you, we, they | are parrying | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was parrying |
| you, we, they | were parrying | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been parrying |
| he, she, it | has been parrying | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been parrying |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be parrying |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been parrying |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- Clinton repeatedly parried questions from reporters on his personal finances.
- Before Macready could thrust, Carradine parried perfectly.
- Clash keeper David Kramer was barely able to parry a 23-yard shot from the left side by Ted Chronopoulos.
- He slashed across his body to parry the attack of the man on the left.
- I could parry some of the weaker kids.
- In truth, I found her rather a pain on the subject and merely parried her constant questions about my job-hunting activities.
- The two then fenced at each other with their beaks, each parrying the other's thrust.
WORD SETS► Weapons
1[intransitive, transitive] to defend yourself against someone who is attacking you by pushing their weapon or hand to one side SYN deflect: air rifle, nounair-to-air, adjectiveammo, nounammunition, nounanti-aircraft, adjectiveanti-personnel, adjectiveanti-tank, adjectivearmament, nounarmoured car, nounarmourer, nounarmour-plated, adjectivearrow, nounarrowhead, nounarsenal, nounartillery, nounatomic bomb, nounautomatic, nounballistic missile, nounballistics, nounbandolier, nounbarbed, adjectivebarrage, nounbarrage balloon, nounbarrel, nounbattering ram, nounbattery, nounbayonet, nounbayonet, verbbazooka, nounBB gun, nounblank, nounblaze, verbblowpipe, nounbludgeon, nounblunderbuss, nounbolt, nounbomb, nounbomber, nounbombing, nounbomb scare, nounbooby trap, nounboom, nounbore, nounbow, nounbrass knuckles, nounbroadsword, nounbuckshot, nounbullet, nounbullet-proof, adjectivebutt, nouncaisson, nouncalibre, nouncanister, nouncannon, nouncannonball, nouncarbine, nouncartridge, nouncatapult, nounchain mail, nounchamber, nouncharge, verbchemical warfare, nounchemical weapon, nounclip, nouncluster bomb, nouncock, verbColt, conventional, adjectivecordite, nouncosh, nouncrossbow, nouncruise missile, nounCS gas, nouncudgel, nouncutlass, nouncut-throat razor, noundagger, noundart, noundecommission, verbdetonator, noundevice, noundirk, noundisarm, verbdischarge, verbdismount, verbdouble-barrelled, duel, nounduel, verbdum-dum, nounelevation, nounemplacement, nounequalizer, nounfirearm, nounfirebomb, nounflak, nounflame thrower, nounflick knife, nounforty-five, nounfusillade, nounfusion bomb, noungauge, noungerm warfare, noungrenade, nounguidance, nounguided missile, noungun, noungun carriage, noungunner, noungunnery, noungunpowder, noungun-running, noungunshot, nounhaft, nounhair trigger, nounhalberd, nounhammer, nounhand grenade, nounhandgun, nounH-bomb, nounheat-seeking, adjectiveheavy, adjectivehilt, nounholster, nounhoming device, nounhowitzer, nounhydrogen bomb, nounICBM, nounincendiary, adjectiveKalashnikov, nounknuckle-duster, nounlance, nounlandmine, nounlive, adjectivelongbow, nounlong-range, adjectivemace, nounmachete, nounmachine gun, nounmagazine, nounmagnum, nounmarksman, nounmarksmanship, nounmegaton, nounmisfire, verbmissile, nounmortar, nounmunitions, nounmushroom cloud, nounmusket, nounmustard gas, nounmuzzle, nounnapalm, nounnerve gas, nounnightstick, nounnitroglycerine, nounnon-proliferation, nounnosecone, nounnuclear, adjectivenuke, verbnuke, nounordnance, nounparry, verbpayload, nounpepper, verbpike, nounpistol, nounplastic explosive, noun.22, nounpoison gas, nounpommel, nounpound, verbprime, verbprimer, nounprojectile, nounpropellant, nounquarterstaff, nounramrod, nounrange, nounrapid-fire, adjectiverapier, nounrearm, verbrecoil, verbrepeater, nounreport, nounrevolver, nounrifle, nounrocket, nounround, nounrubber bullet, nounsabre, nounsafety catch, nounsawn-off shotgun, nounscabbard, nounscimitar, nounsemi-automatic, adjectiveshaft, nounsheathe, verbshell, nounshell, verbshield, nounshooter, nounshot, nounshotgun, nounshrapnel, nounsidearm, nounsight, nounsilencer, nounsilo, nounsix-shooter, nounslash, nounsling, nounslingshot, nounslug, nounsmart bomb, nounsmoke bomb, nounsmokescreen, nounsnipe, verbsniper, nounspear, nounspear, verbSten gun, nounstockpile, nounstockpile, verbstun gun, nounsubmachine gun, nounsurface-to-air missile, nounsurface-to-surface missile, nounswordsmanship, nountank, nountear gas, nounthermonuclear, adjectivetime bomb, nountommy gun, nountorpedo, nountorpedo, verbtracer, nountrident, nountrigger, nountruncheon, noununload, verbvolley, nounvolley, verbwarhead, nounwater cannon, nounweapon, nounweaponry, noun
It is far easier to parry a direct blow than to stop it forcibly.2[transitive] to avoid answering a question that is difficult to answer or that someone does not want to answer: He parried all her questions about his work.—parry noun [countable]