In French, « partir » means "to (de)part". What semantic notions underlie « re » + « partir » 🡺 with the 2020 AD English meaning of repartee (i.e. riposting))? (de)parting and replying don't seem related, probably because I know nothing about fencing.

repartee (n.)

1640s, "quick remark," from French repartie "an answering blow or thrust" (originally a fencing term), noun use of fem. past participle of Old French repartir "to reply promptly, start out again,"
from re- "back" (see re-) + partir "to divide, separate, set out,"
from Latin partiri "to share, part, distribute, divide,"
from pars "a part, piece, a share"
(from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot").

In 17c. often spelled reparty (see -ee). Meaning "a series of sharp rejoinders exchanged" is from 1680s.

For completeness, I quote the etymology of part (v.).

c. 1200, parten "to depart, leave;" late 13c., "cause (things, persons) to separate;"
from Old French partir "to divide, separate" (10c.),
from Latin partire/partiri "to share, part, distribute, divide,"
from pars "a part, piece, a share"
(from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot").

Meaning "divide" (something), especially "divide by cutting or cleaving" is from c. 1300; that of "to share something" (with others) is from early 14c. Of persons, "to separate from one another," early 14c., also intransitive, "draw or hold (persons) apart, separate by intervening." Intransitive sense of "become disunited" is from early 14c.; that of "be divided or severed" is from 1570s. Meaning "to separate the hair, comb the hair away from a dividing line" is attested from 1610s.

posted about 4 years ago

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