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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.
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Impairing
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
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; compare 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; compare 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
EXPANDAntonyms
1. repair.
1. repair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To impairing
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
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