Word of the Day
: October 13, 2018quip
playWhat It Means
1 a : a clever usually taunting remark : gibe
b : a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment
2 : quibble, equivocation
3 : something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity
quip in Context
To almost every comment I made, Adam responded with a quip and a smile.
"The cancellation of the CW network's 'Veronica Mars' after three precious, ratings-starved seasons was a TV tragedy. Viewers reluctantly moved on, but we did not forget the girl who was quick with a quip, and perhaps even quicker with a taser." — Karla Peterson, The San Diego Union Tribune, 25 Aug. 2018
Did You Know?
Quip is an abbreviation of quippy, a noun that is no longer in use. Etymologists believe that quippy derived from the Latin quippe, a word meaning "indeed" or "to be sure" that was often used ironically. The earliest sense of quip, referring to a cutting or sarcastic remark, was common for approximately a century after it first appeared in print in the early 1500s. It then fell out of use until the beginning of the 19th century, when it underwent a revival that continues to the present day.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Name That Synonym
What 5-letter synonym of quip can also refer to a sudden attack in which a group of soldiers rush forward against an enemy?
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