impair
Use Impair in a sentence
verb (used with object)
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.
verb (used without object)
2.
to grow or become worse; lessen.
noun
3.
Archaic. impairment.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
im·pair·a·ble, adjective
im·pair·er, noun
im·pair·ment, noun
non·im·pair·ment, noun
pre·im·pair·ment, noun
Antonyms
1. repair.
1. repair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To impair
00:10
Impair
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is implosion. Does it mean:
| imploding |
| made or done without previous preparation: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
impair (ɪmˈpɛə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| (tr) to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc: his hearing was impaired by an accident | |
| [C14: from Old French empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin pējorāre, from Latin pejor worse; see | |
| im'pairable | |
| —adj | |
| im'pairer | |
| —n | |
| im'pairment | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
impair
late 14c., earlier ampayre, apeyre (c.1300), 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Most people would want to edit memories that impair them.
The unremitting sweaty, sticky, airless journeys to matches every day hundreds of kilometers apart might impair my view.
Space officials are concerned that the loss of any more might impair the operation of the spacecraft.
The opening in his throat to ease his breathing should not necessarily impair his ability to work, the doctors said.
Related Searches
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
