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riposte
4 dictionary results for: riposte
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ri·poste       [ri-pohst] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -post·ed, -post·ing.
–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 respondére; see respond]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ri·poste       (rĭ-pōst')  Pronunciation Key 
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.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
riposte

noun
1. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" [syn: rejoinder] 
2. (fencing) a counterattack made immediately after successfully parrying the opponents lunge 

verb
1. make a return thrust; "his opponent riposted" 
2. answer back [syn: retort] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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