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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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