From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.
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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.
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Win the noble Brutus to our party. --Shak.
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The peace both parties want is like to last.
--Dryden.
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3. A part of a larger body of company; a detachment;
especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on
special service.
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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.
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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.
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6. The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an
individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant.
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The cause of both parties shall come before the
judges. --Ex. xxii. 9.
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7. Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed
or antagonistic to another.
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If the jury found that the party slain was of
English race, it had been adjudged felony. --Sir J.
Davies.
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8. Cause; side; interest.
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Have you nothing said
Upon this Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany? --Shak.
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9. A person; as, he is a queer party. [Now accounted a
vulgarism.]
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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.
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{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.
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