/ˈpɑː.ti/, /ˈpɑɹ.ti/, [ˈpʰɑɹɾi]
OriginFrom Middle English party, partye, partie, from Anglo-Norman partie, from Old French partie (“side, part; portion, share; separation, division”, literally “that which is divided”), noun use of feminine of past participle of Old French partir (“to divide, separate”), from Latin partire (“to share, part, distribute, divide”), from pars (“a part, piece, a share”); see also part. First attested in c. 1300. Doublet of partita. The sense of communist party of a communist state derives Russian партия (partija), short for Коммунистическая партия (Kommunističeskaja partija).
- A person or group of people constituting one side in a legal proceeding, such as in a legal action or a contract.
“The contract requires that the party of the first part pay the fee.”
“if the Jury had found that the party slain had been of English race and nation, it had been adjudged felony”
- archaic, broadlyA group of people forming one side in a given dispute, contest, etc., or united in maintaining a cause, policy, or opinion in opposition to others; a faction.
“A mile back in the forest the tribe had heard the fierce challenge of the gorilla, and, as was his custom when any danger threatened, Kerchak called his people together, partly for mutual protection a”
- archaic, broadlyA political group considered as a formal whole, usually organized on a national basis, which contests elections and aims to form or take part in a government; a political party.
“The green party took 12% of the vote.”
“His party was campaigning successfuly.”
“"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day.[…]A strong man—a strong one; and a heedless”
- archaic, broadlyThe Communist Party, especially as the sole political party of a communist state.
- archaic, broadly, datedThe feeling of solidarity with and support for one's political party; partisanship, especially in political matters.
- Internet, archaic, broadlyActive player characters organized into a single group.
- archaic, broadlyA group of characters controlled by the player.
- A detachment of troops selected for a particular service or duty.
“boarding party”
“The settlers were attacked early next morning by a scouting party.”
- A group of people gathered together, especially temporarily, for a specific purpose such as travel or sport.
“We're expecting a large party from the London office.”
“Do you have a table available for a party of four?”
“We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner.”
- A social gathering, usually of invited guests, which typically involves eating, drinking, and entertainment and often held to celebrate a particular occasion.
“I'm throwing a huge party for my 21st birthday.”
“So-So, tonight, tonight, let’s look at where that time actually goes, and let’s begin with the most obvious form of fundraising: fundraisers. These are usually shitty parties in D.C. bars, restaurants”
“You know I’d leave any party for you / 'Cause no party’s so sweet as a party of two”
- A gathering of acquaintances so that one of them may offer items for sale to the rest of them.
“Tupperware party”
“lingerie party”
- A small group of birds or mammals.
“Small parties of cattle were seen browsing in places where they must with with difficulty have kept their footing[.]”
“A party of mynas, consisting of several males and females, once selected the top of a low terraced roof, just below my verandah, as a site for courting and quarrelling.”
“Small parties and flocks close to breeding sites commonly give shrill, high-pitched, trilling screams.”
- obsoleteA part or portion.
“And so the moost party of the castel that was falle doune thorugh that dolorous stroke laye vpon Pellam and balyn thre dayes.”
- obsoleteA prospective partner or an offer of marriage.
- obsoleteA decision, resolution, agreement.
- intransitiveTo celebrate at a party, to have fun, to enjoy oneself.
“We partied until the early hours.”
- euphemistic, intransitive, slangTo take recreational drugs.
““Miss, do you party?” the boy asked. “What?” Jennifer asked back. “Do you smoke? I'll get you some cheap. One American dollar equals forty Jamaican dollars. I'll get you as much of the stuff as you ne”
- intransitiveTo engage in flings, to have one-night stands, to sow one's wild oats.
- Internet, intransitiveTo form a party (with).
“If you want to beat that monster, you should party with a healer.”
- not-comparable, obsoleteDivided into parts of different tinctures, usually equal, and especially following the lines of one of the ordinaries.
“an escutcheon party per pale”
- not-comparable, obsolete, rareShared by two properties and serving to divide them.
“Now converging, now diverging, these fences presented a striking irregularity of contour. No fence was party, nor any part of any fence.”
- not-comparableFavoring one party; partisan.
Formsparties(plural) · parties(present, singular, third-person) · partying(participle, present) · partied(participle, past) · partied(past) · more party(comparative) · most party(superlative)