Main Entry: ¹par·ti·san

Variant(s): also par·ti·zan \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French partisan, from north Italian dial. partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part

Date: 1555

1 : a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
2 a : a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy b : a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines

synonyms see follower

— partisan adjective

— par·ti·san·ly \-lē\ adverb

— par·ti·san·ship \-ˌship\ noun