PARTHENAY, an arrondissement of the department of the Two Sèvres, in France, extending over 683 square miles. It comprehends eight cantons, divided into forty-six communes, and containing 55,300 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, situated on the river Thoué. It was one of the chief seats of the Vendean war, and suffered most severely. It contains 800 houses, and 3600 inhabitants. Long. 0. 19. W. Lat. 46. 40. N.