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Definition of partisanship - 3 dictionary results

par⋅ti⋅san

1  [pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn; Brit. pahr-tuh-zan]
Use partisanship 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To partisanship
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.
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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