释义 |
par·ty I. \ˈpär]d.ē, ˈpȧ], ]tē, -i\ noun (-es) Etymology: Middle English partie part, portion, party, body of persons forming one side (as in a contest), from Old French, from feminine of parti, past participle of partir to divide, go away — more at part 1. obsolete : a part of a whole : division, portion, share 2. a. : one (as a person or group) constituting alone or with others one of the two sides in a proceeding < the party of the first part and her husband … as party of the second part entered into a separation agreement — Southeastern Reporter > < the two parties to a marriage contract > b. (1) : one (as an individual, firm, or corporation) that constitutes the plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit : litigant (2) : one directly disclosed by the record to be so involved in the prosecution or defense of a proceeding as to be bound by the decision or judgment therein (3) : one indirectly disclosed by the record as being directly interested in the subject matter of a suit or as having power to make a defense, control the proceedings, or appeal from the judgment 3. a. : a body of persons forming one side (as in a contest) : a group united in opinion or action as distinguished from or opposed to a similar or larger group (as the rest of a community or association) : a body of partisans or adherents < a war … in which both parties exerted their utmost strength — William Robertson †1793 > b. (1) : a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government especially by providing the principal political personnel and usually having as a basis for common action one or more factors (as principle, special interest, or tradition) upon which they have substantial agreement — compare faction 1, pressure group (2) : an organization constituted a political party under the laws of certain states (as New York) by polling a fixed number or percentage of the total votes cast at an election and thereby possessing the right to appear on the ballot at a succeeding election (3) : the political party constituting a principal focus of loyalty or the chief means of operating a governmental system < we may deprecate some of the effects of party — Ernest Barker > < compelled … to modify his aversion to party — Kenneth Mackenzie > 4. archaic : one of two or more sides (as in a contest, dispute, or contract) : cause, interest < many feats of arms were there done on both parties — Richard Grafton > 5. : one (as a person or group) that takes part with others in an action or affair : one of several persons engaging or concerned in a transaction : participant < should be a party in the educational council and participate freely in its deliberation — C.W.Hoff > — usually used with to < Greece and Turkey were brought in as parties to the treaty — A.P.Ryan > < the candidate … was in no way a party to the transaction — S.H.Adams > 6. a. : the individual in question or involved in the case at hand : the specific person to whom reference is made < words … which generally make the parties affected melancholy — Robert Burton > b. : a particular individual : person < he is a shameless and determined old party — Winston Churchill > < a rich old party who … dies and leaves him a fortune — A.H.Weiler > 7. [Middle French parti match, party, decision, from parti, past participle of partir to divide, go away] obsolete : a decision on one side or the other : resolution — used chiefly in the phrase to take a party < I am not come to ask counsel … my party is taken — John Vanbrugh > 8. : a group usually constituting a detachment from a larger body or company: as a. : a small number of military personnel dispatched or detailed on special service or duty < infantry … repulsed a landing party from the British fleet — American Guide Series: Maryland > < foraging party > < firing party > b. : a group of people working together on a common project or assignment < the men were divided into parties of twelve, each party to build a hut — H.E.Scudder > < a working party on filing systems was … appointed — Library Science Abstracts > 9. [French parti match, party, decision, from Middle French] archaic : match I 4b < try … to make him look upon either of your daughters as a desirable party for him — Charlotte Smith > 10. [French partie social gathering for pleasure, part, portion, party, body of persons forming one side (as in a contest), from Old French, part, portion, party, body of persons forming one side (as in a contest)] a. : a social gathering or assembly of persons for entertainment, amusement, or pleasure < asked to cocktail and dinner parties — Rose Thurburn > < impulse to gate-crash … a private party — Encounter > < dancing party > < shooting party > b. : something held to resemble (as in appearance or purpose) such a social gathering: as (1) : bee I 3 < donation party > < lynching party > < scalping party > (2) : a social gathering where the demonstration and sale of articles is the principal feature (3) : an occasion on which a specified person is predominant < this is your party. You're doing the talking — Erle Stanley Gardner > 11. [French partie game (as of cards), part, portion, party, body of persons forming one side (as in a contest), from Old French, part, portion, party, body of persons forming one side (as in a contest)] archaic a. : a game of cards or backgammon b. : a match in such a game 12. : partisanship < the spirit of party which unhappily prevails amongst mankind — Joseph Butler > 13. a. : a group of animals moving or otherwise gathered together < a party of over forty hinds with calves … passed slowly — Richard Rhodes > < a lively bird seen … occasionally in small parties — Ernst Mayr > b. : a company or association of persons < a party of visitors from the country — G.B.Shaw > specifically : one formed or gathered together for a particular purpose (as travel, amusement, or attendance at a function) < join a party of thirteen American editors to visit Great Britain — Edward Bok > < snowshoeing parties … visit the snow-clad headland in winter — American Guide Series: Maine > 14. : an act of sexual intercourse II. adjective 1. : being a participating, interested, or otherwise involved party — used with to < they refused to be party to any arrangement that coerced their employees — Mary K. Hammond > < individuals who are party to the relationship — A.J.Vidich > 2. : characterized by joint ownership or shared use < the party fence that divided his backyard from that of his sisters — J.P.Bishop > — see party line 2, party wall 3. a. (1) : of, relating to, or associated with a political party < leadership is inherent in party organization — C.J.Friedrich > < a conference of rural party secretaries — F.C.Barghoorn > < the party agent was … the sole official tie between the party and municipality — R.H.Wells > (2) : in, toward, or favoring a political party < a good party paper … never published fair news of the opposition — F.L.Mott > < party membership > < party loyalty > < party discipline > b. : of, between, or based upon political parties < the party system has become … an integral part of parliamentary democracy — British Parliament > < party alliances > 4. : suitable for a party or similar social gathering < party dress > < party manners > < party cake > < party game > 5. : fond of or addicted to parties and high living < party boys … trying to recapture lost youth — F.J.Taylor > III. verb (-ed/-ing/-es) transitive verb 1. obsolete : to side with : take the part of < did assist and party them in all their enterprises — David Hume †1630? > 2. : to entertain at or by means of parties < finds himself cocktailed, partied, and dined — Ray Josephs > intransitive verb : to attend, take part in, or hold parties and other social gatherings < drinking … partying, or making love — J.W.Aldridge > < this season's … social slump on partying — Alice Dameron > IV. adjective Etymology: Middle French parti striped, party per pale — more at parti- 1. : party per pale 1 < a silver leopard upon a field party gold and gules — W.H. St. John Hope > 2. heraldry : divided into two or more parts having different tinctures or bearing different coats of arms < arms with party fields — W.H. St. John Hope > especially : divided into parts by a line or lines in the direction and position of one of the ordinaries — followed by a phrase beginning with per (as per bend) or an adverb in -wise or -ways (as bendwise or bendways) indicative of the direction and position of the partition; in modern blazon less usual than a phrase in per without preceding adj. |