8. (Min.) Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some
other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellÊ.
Par"ti*san (?), n. [F., fr. It. partigiano. See Party, and cf. Partisan
a truncheon.] [Written also partizan.] 1. An adherent to a party or
faction; esp., one who is strongly and passionately devoted to a party
or an interest. "The violence of a partisan." Macaulay.
Both sides had their partisans in the colony.
Jefferson.
2. (Mil.) (a) The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged
in making forays and harassing an enemy. (b) Any member of such a
corps.
Par"ti*san, a. [Written also partizan.] 1. Adherent to a party or
faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or
unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
2. (Mil.) Serving as a partisan in a detached command; as, a partisan
officer or corps.
Partisan ranger (Mil.), a member of a partisan corps.
Par"ti*san, n. [F. pertuisane, prob. fr. It. partigiana, influenced in
French by OF. pertuisier to pierce. It was prob. so named as the weapon
of some partisans, or party men. Cf. Partisan one of a corps of light
troops.] A kind of halberd or pike; also, a truncheon; a staff.
And make him with our pikes and partisans a grave.
Shak.
Par"ti*san*ship, n. The state of being a partisan, or adherent to a
party; feelings or conduct appropriate to a partisan.
||Par*ti"ta (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) A suite; a set of variations.
Par"tite (?), a. [L. partitus, p. p. of partire to part, divide, from
pars. See Part, and cf. Party, a.] (Bot.) Divided nearly to the base;
as, a partite leaf is a simple separated down nearly to the base.
Par*ti"tion (?), n. [F. partition, L. partitio. See Part, v.] 1. The
act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; separation;
division; distribution; as, the partition of a kingdom.
And good from bad find no partition.
Shak.
2. That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or
distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; separating boundary;
dividing line or space; specifically, an interior wall dividing one
part or apartment of a house, an inclosure, or the like, from another;
as, a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions.
No sight could pass Betwixt the nice partitions of the grass.
Dryden.
3. A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment. [R.]
"Lodged in a small partition." Milton.
4. (Law.) The servance of common or undivided interests, particularly
in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by
compulsion of law.