a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult.
2.
Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to make a riposte.
4.
to reply or retaliate.
Also, ri⋅post.
Origin: 1700–10; < F, var. of risposte prompt answer < It risposta, n. use of fem. ptp. of rispondere to answer < VL *respondere for L respondēre;see respond
[ri-pohst] 
noun, verb, -post⋅ed, -post⋅ing.