Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Part?

\Part\, n. [F. part, L. pars, gen. partis; cf. parere to bring forth, produce. Cf. {Parent}, {Depart}, {Parcel}, {Partner}, {Party}, {Portion}.] 1. One of the portions, equal or unequal, into which anything is divided, or regarded as divided; something less than a whole; a number, quantity, mass, or the like, regarded as going to make up, with others, a larger number, quantity, mass, etc., whether actually separate or not; a piece; a fragment; a fraction; a division; a member; a constituent. And kept back part of the price, . . . and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'feet. --Acts v. 2. Our ideas of extension and number -- do they not contain a secret relation of the parts ? --Locke. I am a part of all that I have met. --Tennyson. 2. Hence, specifically: (a) An equal constituent portion; one of several or many like quantities, numbers, etc., into which anything is divided, or of which it is composed; proportional division or ingredient. An homer is the tenth part of an ephah. --Ex. xvi. 36. A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward. --Shak. (b) A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element. All the parts were formed . . . into one harmonious body. --Locke. The pulse, the glow of every part. --Keble. (c) A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; -- usually in the plural with a collective sense. ``Men of considerable parts.'' --Burke. ``Great quickness of parts.'' --Macaulay. Which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. --Shak. (d) Quarter; region; district; -- usually in the plural. ``The uttermost part of the heaven.'' --Neh. i. 9. All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears. --Dryden. (e) (Math.) Such portion of any quantity, as when taken a certain number of times, will exactly make that quantity; as, 3 is a part of 12; -- the opposite of multiple. Also, a line or other element of a geometrical figure. 3. That which belongs to one, or which is assumed by one, or which falls to one, in a division or apportionment; share; portion; lot; interest; concern; duty; office. We have no part in David. --2 Sam. xx. 1. Accuse not Nature! she hath done her part; Do thou but thine. --Milton. Let me bear My part of danger with an equal share. --Dryden. 4. Hence, specifically: (a) One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction. For he that is not against us is on our part. --Mark ix. 40. Make whole kingdoms take her brother's part. --Waller. (b) A particular character in a drama or a play; an assumed personification; also, the language, actions, and influence of a character or an actor in a play; or, figuratively, in real life. See {To act a part}, under {Act}. That part Was aptly fitted and naturally performed. --Shak. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf. --Shak. Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies. --Pope. (c) (Mus.) One of the different melodies of a concerted composition, which heard in union compose its harmony; also, the music for each voice or instrument; as, the treble, tenor, or bass part; the violin part, etc. {For my part}, so far as concerns me; for my share. {For the most part}. See under {Most}, a. {In good part}, as well done; favorably; acceptably; in a friendly manner. --Hooker. {In ill part}, unfavorably; with displeasure. {In part}, in some degree; partly. {Part and parcel}, an essential or constituent portion; -- a reduplicative phrase. Cf. {might and main}, {kith and kin}, etc. ``She was . . . part and parcel of the race and place.'' --Howitt. {Part of speech} (Gram.), a sort or class of words of a particular character; thus, the noun is a part of speech denoting the name of a thing; the verb is a part of speech which asserts something of the subject of a sentence. {Part owner} (Law), one of several owners or tenants in common. See {Joint tenant}, under {Joint}. {Part singing}, singing in which two or more of the harmonic parts are taken. {Part song}, a song in two or more (commonly four) distinct vocal parts. ``A part song differs from a madrigal in its exclusion of contrapuntual devices; from a glee, in its being sung by many voices, instead of by one only, to each part.'' --Stainer & Barrett. Syn: Portion; section; division; fraction; fragment; piece; share; constituent. See {Portion}, and {Section}.
\Part\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Parted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Parting}.] [F. partir, L. partire, partiri, p. p. partitus, fr. pars, gen. partis, a part. See {Part}, n.] 1. To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into two or more parts or pieces; to sever. ``Thou shalt part it in pieces.'' --Lev. ii. 6. There, [celestial love] parted into rainbow hues. --Keble. 2. To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot; to apportion; to share. To part his throne, and share his heaven with thee. --Pope. They parted my raiment among them. --John xix. 24. 3. To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove from contact or contiguity; to sunder. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. --Ruth i. 17. While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. --Luke xxiv. 51. The narrow seas that part The French and English. --Shak. 4. Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene betwixt, as combatants. The stumbling night did part our weary powers. --Shak. 5. To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion; as, to part gold from silver. The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and strains the vital juices. --Prior. 6. To leave; to quit. [Obs.] Since presently your souls must part your bodies. --Shak. {To part a cable} (Naut.), to break it. {To part company}, to separate, as travelers or companions.
\Part\, v. i. 1. To be broken or divided into parts or pieces; to break; to become separated; to go asunder; as, rope parts; his hair parts in the middle. 2. To go away; to depart; to take leave; to quit each other; hence, to die; -- often with from. He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. --Shak. He owned that he had parted from the duke only a few hours before. --Macaulay. His precious bag, which he would by no means part from. --G. Eliot. 3. To perform an act of parting; to relinquish a connection of any kind; -- followed by with or from. Celia, for thy sake, I part With all that grew so near my heart. --Waller. Powerful hands . . . will not part Easily from possession won with arms. --Milton. It was strange to him that a father should feel no tenderness at parting with an only son. --A. Trollope. 4. To have a part or share; to partake. [Obs.] ``They shall part alike.'' --1 Sam. xxx. 24.
\Part\, adv. Partly; in a measure. [R.] --Shak.