impair
1
[ im-pair ]
/ ɪmˈpɛər /
verb (used with object)
to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage: to impair one's health; to impair negotiations.
verb (used without object)
to grow or become worse; lessen.
noun
Archaic.
impairment.
Origin of impair
1
1250–1300; Middle English
empairen, empeiren to make worse < Middle French
empeirer, equivalent to
em-
im-1 +
peirer to make worse < Late Latin
pējōrāre, equivalent to Latin
pējōr-, stem of
pējor worse +
-ā- thematic vowel +
-re infinitive suffix; cf.
pejorative
OTHER WORDS FROM impair
Words nearby impair
impacter,
impactful,
impaction,
impactite,
impactive,
impair,
impaired,
impairment,
impala,
impale,
impalpable
Definition for impair (2 of 2)
impair
2
[ an-per ]
/ ɛ̃ˈpɛr /
adjective French.
noting any odd number, especially in roulette.
Compare
pair.
Example sentences from the Web for impair
British Dictionary definitions for impair
impair
/ (ɪmˈpɛə) /
verb
(tr)
to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc
his hearing was impaired by an accident
Derived forms of impair
impairable, adjective impairer, noun impairment, nounWord Origin for impair
C14: from Old French
empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin
pējorāre, from Latin
pejor worse; see
pejorative