\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.

\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.
2. Partial; favoring one party.
   I will be true judge, and not party.        --Chaucer.
{Charter party}. See under {Charter}.

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