I. |repə(r)|tē, -ˌpär|t-, -ˌpȧ|t-, -tā noun
( -s )
Etymology: French repartie, from repartir to retort, from Middle French, from re- + partir to divide, go away — more at part
1.
a. : a quick and witty reply : a clever retort
won the applause of the audience with his repartee to a heckler
b. : a succession of clever retorts
beneath the surface of repartee and mock seriousness — R.M.Weaver
the constant repartee is artificial and wearying
2. : adroitness and cleverness in reply : quickness and sharpness in retort
was noted for his repartee and impromptu wit
3. : the uttering of clever retorts
her skill at repartee has made her many enemies
Synonyms: see wit
II. intransitive verb
( reparteed ; reparteed ; reparteeing ; repartees )
: to make or be able to make clever retorts