The Good Oil Word of the Day

The word for today is…

repartee (noun) -

1a: a quick and witty reply b: a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words 2: adroitness and cleverness in reply : skill in repartee

Source : Merriam-Webster

Etymology : Dorothy Parker was known for her repartee. Upon hearing that former president Calvin Coolidge had died, the poet, short-story writer, screenwriter, and critic—famous for her acerbic wit—replied, “How can they tell?” The taciturn Coolidge, aka “Silent Cal,” obviously didn’t have a reputation for being the life of the party, but he could be counted on for the occasional bon mot, as when a Washington, D.C., hostess told him, “You must talk to me, Mr. President. I made a bet today that I could get more than two words out of you,” and he replied, “You lose.” Repartee, our word for a quick, sharp reply (and for skill with such replies) comes from the French repartie, of the same meaning. Repartie itself is formed from the French verb repartir, meaning “to retort.”

** If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.**