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Webster's New World College Dictionary » partisan
partisan
partisan1 definition
par·ti·san (pärt′ə zən, -sən)
noun
- a person who takes the part of or strongly supports one side, party, or person; often, specif., an unreasoning, emotional adherent
- any of a group of guerrilla fighters; esp., a member of an organized civilian force fighting covertly to drive out occupying enemy troops
Etymology: MFr < It partigiano < parte < L pars, part
adjective
- of, like, or characteristic of a partisan
- blindly or unreasonably devoted
- of or having to do with military partisans
Related Forms:
- partisanship par′·ti·san·ship′ noun
partisan2 definition
par·ti·san (pärt′ə zən, -sən)
noun
a broad-bladed weapon with a long shaft, used esp. in the 16th cent.
Etymology: MFr partisane < It partigiana, fem. of partigiano (see partisan): sense infl. by pertugiare, to pierce
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