repartee

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Pronunciation

• (America) IPA: /ˌɹɛpɑɹˈteɪ/
• (RP) IPA: /ˌɹɛpɑːˈtiː/

Noun

repartee

1. A swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing.

   Synonyms: Thesaurus:joke

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

     Yet habit—strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish?—Gayer sallies, more merry mirth, better jokes, and brighter repartees, you never heard over your mahogany […]

   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 41

     A slight smile broke on his lips. ¶ "You are always prepared to sacrifice your principles for a repartee," he answered.

2. A conversation marked by a series of witty retorts.
3. Skill in replying swiftly and wittily.

Translations

• French: repartie
• German: schlagfertige Antwort; Konter

Translations

• German: Schlagabtausch; Geplänkel
• Italian: botta e risposta

Translations

• German: Schlagfertigkeit

Verb

repartee (repartees, present participle reparteeing; past and past participle reparteed)

1. To reply with a repartee
2. To have a repartee (conversation marked by repartees)

Translations

• German: schlagfertig antworten

Translations

• German: sich einen Schlagabtausch liefern

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