[par.ty] n, pl parties [ME partie part, party, fr. OF, fr. partir to divide--more at part] (14c) 1: a person or group taking one side of a question, dispute, or contest
2: a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government
3: a person or group participating in an action or affair "mountain-climbing ~" "a ~ to the transaction"
4: a particular individual: person "an old ~ approaching 80"
5: a detail of soldiers
6: a social gathering; also: the entertainment provided for it -- party adj
[2]party vi par.tied ; par.ty.ing (1919): to attend or give parties; broadly: revel 1 -- par.ty.er n