Partridge, pär′trij, n. a genus of gallinaceous birds preserved for game.—n. Par′tridge-wood, a hard variegated wood, from Brazil and the West Indies, used in cabinet-work. [Fr. perdrix—L. perdix, perdicis—Gr. perdix.]
Part-singing, pärt′-sing-ing, n. act or practice of singing different parts in harmony.—n. Part′-song, a song sung in parts.
Parture, pärt′ūr, n. (Spens.) departure.
Parturient, pär-tū′ri-ent, adj. bringing, or about to bring, forth young: fruitful.—n. Partūri′tion, act of bringing forth.—adj. Partū′ritive. [L. parturiens, -entis, pr.p. of parturīre—parĕre, to bring forth.]
Party, pär′ti, n. a part of a greater number of persons: a faction: a company met for a particular purpose, as a dinner party, a pleasure party, &c.: an assembly: one concerned in any affair: the person or persons on either side in a law-suit: (colloq.) a single individual spoken of: (mil.) a detachment of soldiers.—adj. belonging to a party and not to the whole: consisting of different parties, parts, or things: (her.) parted or divided.—adjs. Par′ti-coat′ed, having on a coat of various colours; Par′ti-col′oured, coloured differently at different parts.—ns. Par′tyism, devotion to party; Par′ty-ju′ry, a jury half of natives and half of aliens; Par′ty-man, a member of a party: a partisan; Par′ty-pol′itics, politics viewed from a party stand-point, or arranged to suit the views or interests of a party; Par′ty-spir′it, the unreasonable spirit shown by a party-man toward those who do not belong to his party.—adj. Par′ty-spir′ited.—ns. Par′ty-ver′dict, a joint verdict; Par′ty-wall, a wall between two adjoining properties, built half on one and half on the other: a wall separating one house from another. [O. Fr. partir—L. partīri, to divide—pars, a part.]
Parure, pa-rür′, n. a set of ornaments, &c. [Fr.]
Parvanimity, par-va-nim′i-ti, n. littleness of mind.
Parvenu, pär′ve-nū, n. an upstart: one newly risen into notice or power.—adj. like a parvenu. [Fr., pa.p. of parvenir—L. pervenīre, to arrive at—per, through, venīre, to come.]
Parvis, Parvise, pär′vis, n. a porch, or an enclosed space before a church: a room over a church porch used as a store, or schoolroom, or as an ecclesiastic's chamber. [O. Fr.,—Low L. paravisus, corr. of Gr. paradeisos; cf. Paradise.]
Pas, pä, n. a step, as in dancing or marching: a dance, as in 'Pas seul'=a dance by one person, 'Pas deux'=a dance of two persons.—Pas d'armes, a joust, a tilt, or a tourney.—Have the pas of one, to take precedence of him. [Fr.]