Hypertext Webster Gateway: "party"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Party \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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Party \Par"ty\, adv.
Partly. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

party
adj : based upon or representing political parties; "party
politics"; "party leaders" [syn: {party(a)}]
n 1: an organization to gain political power; "in 1992 Perot
tried to organize a third party at the national level"
[syn: {political party}]
2: an occasion on which people can assemble for social
interaction and entertainment; "he planned a party to
celebrate Bastille Day"
3: a band of people associated temporarily in some activity;
"they organized a party to search for food"; "the company
of cooks walked into the kitchen" [syn: {company}]
4: a group of people gathered together for pleasure; "she
joined the party after dinner"
5: a person involved in legal proceedings; "the party of the
first part"
v : have a party; "The students were partying all night before
the exam"


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