Main Entry:

¹part·ner

Pronunciation:

\ˈpärt-nər also ˈpärd-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English partener, alteration of parcener, from Anglo-French, coparcener — more at parcener

Date:

14th century

1archaic : one that shares : partaker2 a: one associated with another especially in an action : associate, colleague b: either of two persons who dance together c: one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side d: a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple3: a member of a partnership especially in a business ; also : such membership4: one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast —usually used in plural

— part·ner·less \-ləs\ adjective