Parry: Mastering the Art of Deflection
Learn how to skillfully parry challenging questions and verbal attacks with this GRE vocabulary lesson on the versatile word ‘parry’. Discover its meaning, usage, and examples to enhance your communication skills.
Imagine you’re in a heated debate, and your opponent throws a challenging question your way. How do you skillfully deflect it without losing your composure?
The word you’re looking for is parry. This GRE vocabulary lesson will equip you with the knowledge to master this versatile word.
Word type: Parry can function as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it’s pronounced puh-ree. As a noun, it’s pronounced pah-ree.
Meaning: As a verb, parry means to ward off, evade, or turn aside something, such as a blow, a weapon, or a verbal attack.
In a broader sense, it can mean to avoid or deflect with a clever or skillful response. As a noun, a parry is the act of deflecting or warding off.
Word history: The word parry has its roots in fencing. It comes from the French word parer, meaning to ward off or defend, which in turn derives from the Latin parare, meaning to prepare or defend.
Its use in English dates back to the early seventeenth century.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for parry include accept, receive, welcome, and embrace.
These words represent the opposite of deflecting or avoiding something.
Synonyms: Synonyms for parry include deflect, evade, avoid, block, ward off, and sidestep.
These words all convey the idea of skillfully maneuvering away from or defending against something.
Examples use in sentences:
In a fencing match, Sarah expertly parried her opponent’s thrust, creating an opening for her counterattack.
The politician parried the journalist’s probing questions with vague, noncommittal responses. His quick wit allowed him to parry the insult with a humorous comeback, diffusing the tense situation.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing parry with parody. While parry means to deflect or evade, parody refers to a humorous imitation or exaggeration.
Another error is using parry in situations where a more common synonym like avoid or deflect would be more appropriate in everyday language.
To wrap up, parry is a powerful word that describes the act of skillfully deflecting or evading something, be it physical or verbal.
Whether you’re discussing fencing, debates, or everyday interactions, using parry can add precision and sophistication to your language.
As you prepare for the GRE, remember that mastering words like parry can help you parry the challenges of the verbal section with confidence and finesse.
