This week's theme
Words from fencing

This week's words
foible
forte
elan
riposte
touché

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(ri-POST)

MEANING:

noun: 1. A quick, clever reply. 2. In fencing, a quick return thrust.
verb tr.: To make a quick, clever reply.
verb intr.: In fencing, to make a quick return thrust.

ETYMOLOGY:

From obsolete French risposte (response), from Italian risposta (response), from Latin respondere (to respond), from re- (back) + spondere (to pledge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root spend- (to make an offering or perform a rite), which is also the source of sponsor, spouse, espouse, and respond. Earliest documented use: 1707.

USAGE:

"Asked about the situation, Rodriguez delivered a particularly pointed riposte that embodied his mature response to the entire situation."
Sam Borden; Kansas State Sets Up Melting Pot; The New York Times; Mar 16, 2012.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: