Impair

Impair
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. [1913 Webster]

Time sensibly all things impairs. --Roscommon. [1913 Webster]

In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. --Pope.

Syn: To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • impair — impair, aire [ ɛ̃pɛr ] adj. et n. m. • 1521; impar 1484; lat. impar; d apr. pair I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ Qui n est pas pair, qui ne peut être divisé par deux en donnant des nombres entiers. Nombres impairs. Math. Fonction impaire, dont la valeur change de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • impair — impair, aire (in pêr, pê r ) adj. 1°   Terme d arithmétique. Opposé à pair ; qu on ne peut diviser en deux nombres entiers égaux. Trois, cinq, sept, etc. sont des nombres impairs.    Années impaires, celles qui sont exprimées par un nombre impair …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • impair — im·pair /im per/ vt 1: to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing impair ed health 2: to diminish the value of (property or property rights); specif: to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses …   Law dictionary

  • impair — Impair. adj. Qui n est point pair, nombre impair. Nous sommes icy nombre impair, en nombre impair. tout nombre est pair ou impair …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Impair — Im pair, a. [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im not + par equal.] Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Impair — Im*pair , v. t. To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Impair — Im*pair , n. Diminution; injury. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • impair — (v.) late 14c., earlier ampayre, apeyre (c.1300), from O.Fr. empeirier (Mod.Fr. empirer), from V.L. *impejorare make worse, from assimilated form of in into, in (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + L.L. pejorare make worse, from pejor worse. In reference to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • impair — damage, mar, *injure, harm, hurt, spoil Analogous words: *weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, sap, undermine, disable, cripple: *deface, disfigure: *deform, distort, contort, warp Antonyms: improve, amend: repair Contrasted words: better, ameliorate… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • impair — [v] harm, hinder blemish, blunt, cheapen, damage, debase, debilitate, decrease, destroy, deteriorate, devaluate, devalue, diminish, ding*, disqualify, enervate, enfeeble, hurt, injure, invalidate, lessen, lose strength, make useless, mar,… …   New thesaurus

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