The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
REPARTEE
repartee
(noun) adroitness and cleverness in reply
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
repartee (countable and uncountable, plural repartees)
A swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing.
Synonym: Thesaurus:joke
A conversation marked by a series of witty retorts.
Skill in replying swiftly and wittily.
Verb
repartee (third-person singular simple present repartees, present participle reparteeing, simple past and past participle reparteed)
To reply with a repartee
To have a repartee (conversation marked by repartees)
Anagrams
• pear tree, peartree, repeater, rerepeat
Source: Wiktionary
Rep`ar*tee" (rp`3r-t"), n. Etym: [F. repartie, fr. repartir to reply, depart again; pref. re- re- partir to part, depart. See Part.]
Definition: A smart, ready, and witty reply. Cupid was as bad as he; Hear but the youngster's repartee. Prior.
Syn.
– Retort; reply. See Retort.
Rep`ar*tee", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reparteed (-td"); p. pr. & vb. n. Reparteeing.]
Definition: To make smart and witty replies. [R.] Prior.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
2 June 2025
FOOTING
(noun) status with respect to the relations between people or groups; “on good terms with her in-laws”; “on a friendly footing”
Coffee Trivia
