impair
10 dictionary results for: Impair
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
im·pair 
[im-pair] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[im-pair] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
–noun
| 1. | to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage: to impair one's health; to impair negotiations. |
| 2. | to grow or become worse; lessen. |
| 3. | Archaic. impairment. |
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME empairen, empeiren to make worse < MF empeirer, equiv. to em- im-1 + peirer to make worse < LL péjōrāre, equiv. to L péjōr-, s. of péjor worse + -ā- thematic vowel + -re inf. suffix; cf. pejorative]
] —Related forms
im·pair·a·ble, adjective
im·pair·er, noun
im·pair·ment, noun
—Antonyms 1. repair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
im·pair
[an-per] Pronunciation Key
[an-per] Pronunciation Key –adjective French.
| noting any odd number, esp. in roulette. |
Compare pair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| im·pair
(ĭm-pâr') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. im·paired, im·pair·ing, im·pairs To cause to diminish, as in strength, value, or quality: an injury that impaired my hearing; a severe storm impairing communications. [Middle English empairen, from Old French empeirer, from Vulgar Latin *impēiōrāre : Latin in-, causative pref.; see in-2 + Late Latin pēiōrāre, to worsen (from Latin pēior, worse; see ped- in Indo-European roots).] im·pair'ment n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
impair
impair
c.1374, earlier ampayre, apeyre (1297), from O.Fr. empeirier, from V.L. *impejorare "make worse," from L. in- "into" + L.L. pejorare "make worse," from pejor "worse." In ref. to driving under the influence of alcohol, first recorded 1951 in Canadian Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| impair | |
verb | |
| 1. | make worse or less effective; "His vision was impaired" |
| 2. | make imperfect; "nothing marred her beauty" [syn: mar] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: im·pair
Pronunciation: im-'per
Function: transitive verb
1 : to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing <impaired health>
2 : to diminish the value of (property or property rights); specifically : to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses the benefit of the contract or the contract otherwise becomes invalid impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference —Gerald Gunther> —see also CONTRACT CLAUSE —im·pair·ment noun
Main Entry: im·pair
Pronunciation: im-'per
Function: transitive verb
1 : to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing <impaired health>
2 : to diminish the value of (property or property rights); specifically : to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses the benefit of the contract or the contract otherwise becomes invalid impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference —Gerald Gunther> —see also CONTRACT CLAUSE —im·pair·ment noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Impair
Im*pair"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Impairing.] [Written also empair.] [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.] To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind, value. Time sensibly all things impairs. --Roscommon. In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. --Pope. Syn: To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Impair
Im*pair"\, v. t. To grow worse; to deteriorate. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Impair
Im"pair\, a. [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.] Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Impair
Im*pair"\, n. Diminution; injury. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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