51Թ

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View synonyms for

impair

1

[ im-pair ]

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.

    Antonyms:



verb (used without object)

  1. to grow or become worse; lessen.

noun

  1. Archaic. impairment.

impair

2

[ an-per ]

adjective

French.
  1. noting any odd number, especially in roulette. Compare pair.

impair

/ ɪˈɛə /

verb

  1. tr to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc

    his hearing was impaired by an accident

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ貹Գ, noun
  • ˈ貹, noun
  • ˈ貹, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·貹a· adjective
  • ·貹İ noun
  • ·貹mԳ noun
  • non·貹mԳ noun
  • pre·貹mԳ noun
  • self-·貹a· adjective
  • -·貹iԲ adjective
  • un·貹a· adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of impair1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English empairen, empeiren “to make worse,” from Middle French empeirer, from em- im- 1 + peirer “to make worse” (from Late Latin ŧō, verb derivative of Latin ŧǰ “wǰ”; pejoration )

Origin of impair2

First recorded in 1820–30; from French: literally, “odd,” from Latin “odd, unequal”; equivalent to im- 2( def ) + pair 2( def )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of impair1

C14: from Old French empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin ŧǰāre, from Latin pejor worse; see pejorative
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Synonym Study

See injure.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On Friday Sharkey was handed a two year prison term, suspended for two years, after a judge concluded her post-natal depression had impaired her judgement so severely the case "called for compassion" rather than punishment.

From

“There seems little question that these cuts are going to severely impair NOAA's ability to carry out its mission,” he wrote.

From

“People might lose track of where they are, blurred vision, loss of balance. There’s nausea, chest tightness, headache, vomiting and impaired memory.”

From

But if you choose the wrong one to remove, the patient will still have seizures, and now may have impaired memory as well.

From

Harry's vision has also been impaired, and he now needs help eating and has been given a gastronomy tube.

From

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