Definition of riposte
1 : a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry
2 : a retaliatory verbal sally : retort
3 : a retaliatory maneuver or measure
riposte
verbFrom the M-W Editors
riposte was our Word of the Day on 03/23/2013. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of riposte in a Sentence
he's known for having a brilliant riposte to nearly any insult
Did You Know?
In the sport of fencing, a riposte is a counterattack made after successfully fending off one's opponent. English speakers borrowed the name for this particular maneuver from French in the early 1700s, but the French had simply modified Italian risposta, which literally means "answer." Ultimately these words come from the Latin verb respondēre meaning "to respond." It seems fitting that "riposte" has since come full circle to now refer to a quick and witty response performed as a form of retaliation.
Origin and Etymology of riposte
French, modification of Italian risposta, literally, answer, from rispondere to respond, from Latin respondēre
First Known Use: 1707
RIPOSTE Defined for English Language Learners
riposte
playDefinition of riposte for English Language Learners
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: a quick and clever reply
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