[par.ry] vb par.ried ; par.ry.ing [prob. fr. F parez, imper. of parer to parry, fr. OProv parar, fr. L parare to prepare--more at pare] vi (1672) 1: to ward off a weapon or blow
2: to evade or turn aside something ~ vt 1: to ward off (as a blow)
2: to evade esp. by an adroit answer "~ an embarrassing question" -- parry n