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Definition of partisanship - 3 dictionary results

par⋅ti⋅san

1  [pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn; Brit. pahr-tuh-zan]
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–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.
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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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Partisanship

Par"ti*san*ship\, n. The state of being a partisan, or adherent to a party; feelings or conduct appropriate to a partisan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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