impair
UK /ɪmˈpɛə/ · US /ɪmˈpɛɹ/ verb, adjective, noun
Forms impairs impairing impaired empair
- verb (transitive) To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
- verb (intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.
- adjective (obsolete) Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.
- noun (obsolete) The act of impairing or deteriorating.
- noun (obsolete) The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
- noun (obsolete) An impairment or deterioration.
Synonyms
Etymology
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”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind, value.
- verb To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.
- adjective Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.]
- noun Diminution; injury. [Obs.]
Etymology [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.]
Etymology [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “impair”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details