I. ˌpärləˌmen.ˈterēən, ˌpȧl-, -lyə-, -_mən.-, -ta(a)r-, -tār- noun
( -s )
Etymology: parliament + -arian
1. often capitalized : an adherent of the parliament in opposition to the king during the English Civil War
the civil wars forced both royalists and parliamentarians into claims of supremacy — G.H.Sabine
a parliamentarian who had signed the English king's death warrant — R.C.Garvey
— compare cavalier I 4, roundhead , royalist
2. : an expert in the rules and usages of a parliament or other deliberative assembly ; specifically : an officer of a legislative body acting as adviser to the presiding officer on matters of procedure
3. : a member of a parliament
a small party … which has one parliamentarian — R.C.Bone
II. adjective
: parliamentary
the parliamentarian major was … embarrassed by this proposal — Sir Walter Scott
a country with a parliamentarian system of government