party

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: political partycompany

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. an organization to gain political power“in 1992 Perot tried to organize a third party at the national level”Synonyms: political party
  2. a group of people gathered together for pleasure“she joined the party after dinner”
  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”Synonyms: company
  4. an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment“he planned a party to celebrate Bastille Day”
  5. a person involved in legal proceedings“the party of the first part”

Verb (1)

  1. have or participate in a party“The students were partying all night before the exam”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Party \Par"ty\ (p[aum]r"t[y^]), n.; pl. Parties (p[aum]r"t[i^]z). [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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Win the noble Brutus to our party.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
The peace both parties want is like to last.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

3.A part of a larger body of company; a detachment; especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on special service. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

6.The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant. [1913 Webster]

The cause of both parties shall come before the judges.— Ex. xxii. 9.[1913 Webster]

7.Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another. [1913 Webster]

If the jury found that the party slain was of English race, it had been adjudged felony.— Sir J. Davies.[1913 Webster]

8.Cause; side; interest. [1913 Webster]

Have you nothing said Upon this Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?— Shak.[1913 Webster]

9.A person; as, he is a queer party. [Now accounted a vulgarism.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

2.Partial; favoring one party; partisan. [1913 Webster]

I will be true judge, and not party.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

Charter party. See under Charter. [1913 Webster]

Party \Par"ty\, adv. Partly. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
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