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Definition of partisan - 5 dictionary results
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Partisan Definition
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par⋅ti⋅san

1  [pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn; Brit. pahr-tuh-zan]
Use partisan in a Sentence
–noun
1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, esp. a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, esp. a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army.
–adjective
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.: partisan politics.
4. of, pertaining to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.
Also, partizan.

Origin:
1545–55; < MF < Upper It parteźan (Tuscan partigiano), equiv. to part(e) faction, part + -eźan (< VL *-ēs- -ese + L -iānus -ian )

Related forms:
par⋅ti⋅san⋅ship, par⋅ti⋅san⋅ry, noun

Synonyms:
1. See follower. 3. biased, prejudiced.

Antonyms:
1. opponent.

par⋅ti⋅san

2  [pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn]
–noun
a shafted weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries, having as a head a long spear blade with a pair of curved lobes at the base.
Also, partizan.
Compare halberd.

Origin:
1550–60; < MF partizane < Upper It parteźana, prob. by ellipsis from *arma parteźana weapon borne by members of a faction; see partisan 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To partisan
par·ti·san 1   (pär'tĭ-zən)   
n.  

  1. A fervent, sometimes militant supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.

  2. A member of an organized body of fighters who attack or harass an enemy, especially within occupied territory; a guerrilla.

adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan or partisans.

  2. Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause: partisan politics.


[French, from Old French, from Old Italian dialectal partisano, variant of Old Italian partigiano, from parte, part, from Latin pars, part-; see part.]
par'ti·san·ship' n.
par·ti·san 2 also par·ti·zan   (pär'tĭ-zən)   
n.  A weapon having a blade with lateral projections mounted on the end of a long shaft, used chiefly in the 16th and 17th centuries.

[French partizane, from Italian dialectal *(arma) partisana, partisan (weapon), feminine sing. of partisano, supporter; see partisan1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

partisan  (n.)
1555, "one who takes part with another, zealous supporter," from M.Fr. partisan (15c.), from dial. upper It. partezan (Tuscan partigiano) "member of a faction, partner," from parte "part, party," from L. partem (nom. pars), see part (n.). Sense of "guerilla fighter" is first recorded 1692. The adj. is 1708 for warfare, 1842 for politics.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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