party

Definition

A person or group of people constituting one side in a legal proceeding, such as in a legal action or a contract.

Etymology

From Middle English party, partye, partie, from Anglo-Norman partie, from Old French partie (“side, part; portion, share; separation, division”, literally “that which is divided”), noun use of feminine of past participle of Old French partir (“to divide, separate”), from Latin partire (“to share, part, distribute, divide”), from pars (“a part, piece, a share”); see also part. First attested in c. 1300. Doublet of partita. The sense of communist party of a communist state derives Russian партия (partija), short for Коммунистическая партия (Kommunističeskaja partija).

Example Sentences

• "The contract requires that the party of the first part pay the fee."
• "if the Jury had found that the party slain had been of English race and nation, it had been adjudged felony"
• "He is a queer party."

Related Words