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riposte

 - 3 dictionary results

ri⋅poste

  [ri-pohst] noun, verb, -post⋅ed, -post⋅ing.
Use riposte in a Sentence
–noun
1. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To riposte
ri·poste   (rĭ-pōst')   
n.  

  1. Sports A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.

  2. A retaliatory action, maneuver, or retort.

intr.v.   ri·post·ed, ri·post·ing, ri·postes

  1. To make a return thrust.

  2. To retort quickly.


[French, alteration of obsolete risposte, from Italian risposta, answer, from feminine past participle of rispondere, to answer, from Latin respondēre; see respond.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

riposte 
1707, "a quick thrust after parrying a lunge," a fencing term, from Fr. riposte, by dissimilation from risposte, from It. risposta "a reply," from rispondere "to respond," from L. respondere (see respond). Sense of "sharp retort" is first attested 1865.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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