English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English impairen, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, from Early Medieval Latin impeiōrāre, from in- + Late Latin peiōrāre (worsen), from peiōrem (worse), comparative of malus (bad).

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

impair (third-person singular simple present impairs, present participle impairing, simple past and past participle impaired)

  1. (transitive) To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
    • 2020 January 22, Stuart Jeffries, “Terry Jones obituary”, in The Guardian[1]:
      In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that impairs the ability to communicate.
  2. (intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Adjective edit

impair (comparative more impair, superlative most impair)

  1. (obsolete) Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.

Noun edit

impair (plural impair or impairs)

  1. (obsolete) The act of impairing or deteriorating.
  2. (obsolete) The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
  3. (obsolete) An impairment or deterioration.
    • 1671, Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, pages 146–147:
      Suppoſe a mans credit ſhould ſuffer an impair with thoſe whoſe cenſure is not to be valued; yet think, which is worſe, ſhame or ſin? Wilt thou ſin againſt God to ſave thy credit?

Further reading edit

French edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin impār. By surface analysis, im- +‎ pair.

Adjective edit

impair (feminine impaire, masculine plural impairs, feminine plural impaires)

  1. odd (of a number)
    Antonym: pair
    3 est un nombre impair.3 is an odd number.

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit