Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Party?

\Par"ty\, n.; pl. {Parties}. [F. parti and partie, fr. F. partir to part, divide, L. partire, partiri. See {Part}, v.] 1. A part or portion. [Obs.] ``The most party of the time.'' --Chaucer. 2. A number of persons united in opinion or action, as distinguished from, or opposed to, the rest of a community or association; esp., one of the parts into which a people is divided on questions of public policy. Win the noble Brutus to our party. --Shak. The peace both parties want is like to last. --Dryden. 3. A part of a larger body of company; a detachment; especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on special service. 4. A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company; as, a dinner party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a party. 5. One concerned or interested in an affair; one who takes part with others; a participator; as, he was a party to the plot; a party to the contract. 6. The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant. The cause of both parties shall come before the judges. --Ex. xxii. 9. 7. Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another. It the jury found that the party slain was of English race, it had been adjudged felony. --Sir J. Davies. 8. Cause; side; interest. Have you nothing said Upon this Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany? --Shak. 9. A person; as, he is a queer party. [Now accounted a vulgarism.] Note: ``For several generations, our ancestors largely employed party for person; but this use of the word, when it appeared to be reviving, happened to strike, more particularly, the fancy of the vulgar; and the consequence has been, that the polite have chosen to leave it in their undisputed possession.'' --Fitzed. Hall. {Party jury} (Law), a jury composed of different parties, as one which is half natives and half foreigners. {Party man}, a partisan. --Swift. {Party spirit}, a factious and unreasonable temper, not uncommonly shown by party men. --Whately. {Party verdict}, a joint verdict. --Shak. {Party wall}. (a) (Arch.) A wall built upon the dividing line between two adjoining properties, usually having half its thickness on each property. (b) (Law) A wall that separates adjoining houses, as in a block or row.
\Par"ty\, a. [F. parti divided, fr. partir to divide. See {Part}, v., and cf. {Partite}.] 1. (Her.) Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries; as, an escutcheon party per pale. 2. Partial; favoring one party. I will be true judge, and not party. --Chaucer. {Charter party}. See under {Charter}.
\Par"ty\, adv. Partly. [Obs.] --Chaucer.