Partisan

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɑː.tɪˌzæn/

Definitions

1. A person exhibiting loyal support towards a specific political group, often with bias
2. An individual actively involved in an armed group fighting against an occupying power or government ; a person who firmly supports a particular cause, group, or political party often without considering opposing views
3. A fighter who belongs to a resistance or guerrilla faction engaging in military conflict ; a devoted follower who champions a specific ideology or political faction with unwavering commitment

Etymology: The word arrived in English twice, once as a person and once as a weapon. In the late 15th century, a "partisan" was simply an adherent of a party or faction, someone who took sides. The root is the Italian "parte," meaning "part," and the Italian "partigiano" meant a defender of a party. French borrowed it as "partisan," and English took it from there, so the sense of partisanship as strong loyalty to a camp came first. The fighter sense came later and by a different route. Around 1690 the word began to mean a member of an irregular band that harassed a larger army, the guerrilla sense of today. Its spread was reinforced by the same word in Serbo-Croatian and Russian, "partizan," which carried that meaning as well. The weapon is a separate English word from the same Italian source. "Partisan" in the sense of a long spear with a broad blade and crossbar came through French "partisane," and it was named after the irregular troops who were often armed with it. The later military adjective, used of irregular fighting, appeared in the early 18th century.

Synonyms: supporter, follower, advocate, devotee, enthusiast

Antonyms: opponent, adversary, critic, detractor, opposer