party

Where does the word "party" come from? It comes from Latin pars, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Party’s story begins in Latin: pars meant “part, side.” 'part'; Caesar's Gallic War opens 'Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres', Gaul is divided into three parts. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as partie. From partir 'to divide'; a part, a side in a quarrel, or a litigant in court, the sense still used in legal 'third party'. It reached English by 1200s as party. The political sense grew with the Whigs and Tories of the 1680s; a 'party' as a social gathering dates from the 1700s. Today, party means a social gathering; a political organisation; a person or group in an agreement.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · classical pars "part, side", 'part'; Caesar's Gallic War opens 'Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres', Gaul is divided into three parts.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1100s partie "part, side", from partir 'to divide'; a part, a side in a quarrel, or a litigant in court, the sense still used in legal 'third party'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s party "political group; social gathering", the political sense grew with the Whigs and Tories of the 1680s; a 'party' as a social gathering dates from the 1700s.