PARTISAN

Main Entry: 1par·ti·san Variant(s): also par·ti·zan /'pär-t&-z&n, -s&n, -"zan, chiefly British "pär-t&-'zan/ Function: noun Etymology: Middle French partisan, from Old Italian partigiano, from parte 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 synonym see FOLLOWER - partisan adjective - par·ti·san·ly /-lE/ adverb - par·ti·san·ship /-"ship/ noun