||Par*then"o*pe (p‰r*thn"*p), n. [L., the name of a Siren, fr. Gr. ||Parqeno`pn.] 1. (Gr. Myth.) One of the Sirens, who threw herself into ||the sea, in despair at not being able to beguile Ulysses by her ||songs.
2. One of the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, discovered by M. de Gasparis in 1850.
Par"thi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to ancient Parthia, in Asia. -- n. A native of Parthia.
Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot.
Par"tial (?), a. [F., fr. LL. partials, fr. L. pars, gen. partis, a part; cf. (for sense 1) F. partiel. See Part, n.] 1. Of, pertaining to, or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as, a partial eclipse of the moon. "Partial dissolutions of the earth." T. Burnet.
2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause, or one side of a question, more then the other; baised; not indifferent; as, a judge should not be partial.
Ye have been partial in the law.
Mal. ii. 9.
3. Having a predelection for; inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond. "A partial parent." Pope.
Not partial to an ostentatious display.
Sir W. Scott.
4. (Bot.) Pertaining to a subordinate portion; as, a compound umbel is made up of a several partial umbels; a leaflet is often supported by a partial petiole.
Partial differentials, Partial differential coefficients, Partial differentiation, etc. (of a function of two or more variables), the differentials, differential coefficients, differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis that some of the variables are for the time constant. -- Partial fractions (Alg.), fractions whose sum equals a given fraction. -- Partial tones (Music), the simple tones which in combination form an ordinary tone; the overtones, or harmonics, which, blending with a fundamental tone, cause its special quality of sound, or timbre, or tone color. See, also, Tone.
Par"tial*ism (?), n. Partiality; specifically (Theol.), the doctrine of the Partialists.
Par"tial*ist n. 1. One who is partial. [R.]
2. (Theol.) One who holds that the atonement was made only for a part of mankind, that is, for the elect.
Par`ti*al"i*ty (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. partialitÈ.] 1. The quality or state of being partial; inclination to favor one party, or one side of a question, more than the other; undue bias of mind.
2. A predilection or inclination to one thing rather than to others; special taste or liking; as, a partiality for poetry or painting. Roget.
Par"tial*ize (?), v. t. & i. To make or be partial. [R.]
Par"tial*ly adv. 1. In part; not totally; as, partially true; the sun partially eclipsed. Sir T. Browne.
2. In a partial manner; with undue bias of mind; with unjust favor or dislike; as, to judge partially. Shak.
Part`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [From Partible.] The quality or state of being partible; divisibility; separability; as, the partibility of an inherttance.
Part"i*ble (?), a. [L. partibilis, fr. partire to part, divide, fr. L. pars: cf. F. partible. See Part.] Admitting of being parted; divisible; separable; susceptible of severance or partition; as, an estate of inheritance may be partible. "Make the molds partible." Bacon.
Par*tic"i*pa*ble (?), a. Capable of being participated or shared. [R.] Norris.
Par*tic"i*pant (?), a. [L. participans, p. pr. of participare: cf. F. participant. See Participate.] Sharing; participating; having a share of part. Bacon.
Par*tic"i*pant, n. A participator; a partaker.
Participants in their . . . mysterious rites.
Bp. Warburton.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.