I. ˈpär-tē noun
( plural parties )
Etymology: Middle English partie part, party, from Anglo-French, from partir to divide — more at part
Date: 14th century
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
a mountain-climbing party
a party to the transaction
4. : a particular individual : person
an old party approaching 80
5. : a detail of soldiers
6. : a social gathering ; also : the entertainment provided for it
• party adjective
II. intransitive verb
( par·tied ; par·ty·ing )
Date: 1919
: to attend or give parties ; broadly : revel 1
• par·ty·er also par·ti·er -tē-ər noun