v. Obs. rare–1. [f. F. contre-risposter, f. contre-risposte, now -riposte, in Fencing, a thrust or movement of the sword opposed to a RIPOSTE.] To return a smart, sharp retort.
1652. Urquhart, Jewel, Wks. (1834), 226. In complements after this manner … retorted, contrerisposted, backreverted, and now and then graced with a quip or a clinch.
