German

Noun

Partisan m ‎(genitive Partisanen, plural Partisanen)

1. partisan (member of a body of detached light troops)

Synonyms

• Partisane

Related terms

• Partisanin

English

Alternative forms

• partizan

Noun

partisan ‎(plural partisans)

1. An adherent to a party or faction.
   • 1992, Thomas R. Pegram, "Partisans and Progressives: Private Interest and Public Policy in Illinois

     "Strong partisans of neither party, Indiana farmers failed to act as a block […] "

2. A fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
3. A member of a band of detached light, irregular troops acting behind occupying enemy lines in the ways of harassment or sabotage; a guerrilla fighter
4. (now rare) The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.

Related terms

• part
• party

Translations

Adjective

partisan ‎(comparative more partisan, superlative most partisan)

1. Serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops: as, a partisan officer or corps.
2. Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
3. Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause: partisan politics.
   • 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:

     England will regard it as a measure of justice for Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup - but it was also an illustration of how they rode their luck for long periods in front of a predictably partisan home crowd.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle French partizaine, partisanne et al., from Italian partigiana, related to Etymology 1, above (apparently because it was seen as a typical weapon of such forces).

Noun

partisan ‎(plural partisans)

1. (historical) A long-handled spear with a triangular, double-edged blade having lateral projections, in some forms also used in boar hunting. Obsolescent after the 17th century until revived by Sir Walter Scott.^[1]
   • Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra:

     I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

   • Sir Walter Scott, The Talisman:

     Salisbury and his attendants were also now drawing near, with bills and partisans brandished, and bows already bended.

2. (obsolete) A soldier armed with such a weapon.

Translations

See also

• halberd

References

1. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary

Anagrams

• aspirant

French

Etymology

From Italian partigiano.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paʁtisɑ̃/

Noun

partisan m ‎(plural partisans)

1. supporter, proponent, advocate

Adjective

partisan m ‎(feminine singular partisane, masculine plural partisans, feminine plural partisanes)

1. partisan, partial
2. in favour of

Anagrams

• aspirant

Norman

Etymology

Borrowing from French partisan.

Noun

partisan m ‎(plural partisans)

1. (Jersey) supporter

Norwegian Bokmål

Sovjetiske partisaner i Hviterussland i 1943 (Soviet partisans in Belarus 1943)

Etymology

From Italian partigiano, via French partisan

Noun

partisan m ‎(definite singular partisanen, indefinite plural partisaner, definite plural partisanene)

1. a partisan (member of an armed group)

References

• “partisan” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Italian partigiano, via French partisan

Noun

partisan m ‎(definite singular partisanen, indefinite plural partisanar, definite plural partisanane)

1. a partisan (member of an armed group)

References

• “partisan” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.