Impair


[im-pair] /ɪmˈpɛər/

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.
noun
3.
Archaic. impairment.
[an-per] /ɛ̃ˈpɛr/
adjective, French.
1.
noting any odd number, especially in roulette.
/ɪmˈpɛə/
verb
1.
(transitive) to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc: his hearing was impaired by an accident
v.

late 14c., earlier ampayre, apeyre (c.1300), from Old French empeirier (Modern French empirer), from Vulgar Latin *impeiorare “make worse,” from assimilated form of in- “into, in” (see in- (2)) + Late Latin peiorare “make worse” (see pejorative). In reference to driving under the influence of alcohol, first recorded 1951 in Canadian English. Related: Impaired; impairing.

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  • Impaired

    [im-paird] /ɪmˈpɛərd/ adjective 1. weakened, diminished, or damaged: impaired hearing; to rebuild an impaired bridge. 2. functioning poorly or inadequately: Consumption of alcohol results in an impaired driver. 3. deficient or incompetent (usually preceded by an adverb or noun): morally impaired; sports-impaired. [im-pair] /ɪmˈpɛər/ verb (used with object) 1. to make or cause to become […]

  • Impairing

    [im-pair] /ɪmˈpɛər/ 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. noun 3. Archaic. impairment. /ɪmˈpɛə/ verb 1. (transitive) to reduce or weaken in strength, […]

  • Impairment

    [im-pair-muh nt] /ɪmˈpɛər mənt/ noun 1. the state of being diminished, weakened, or damaged, especially mentally or physically: cognitive impairment in older adults. n. mid-14c., emparement, from Old French empeirement, from empeirier (see impair). Re-Latinized spelling is from 1610s. impairment im·pair·ment (ĭm-pâr’mənt) n. Weakening, damage, or deterioration, especially as a result of injury or disease. […]

  • Impala

    [im-pal-uh, -pah-luh] /ɪmˈpæl ə, -ˈpɑ lə/ noun, plural impalas (especially collectively) impala. 1. an African antelope, Aepyceros melampus, the male of which has ringed, lyre-shaped horns. /ɪmˈpɑːlə/ noun (pl) -las, -la 1. an antelope, Aepyceros melampus, of southern and eastern Africa, having lyre-shaped horns and able to move with enormous leaps when disturbed n. 1875, […]

  • Impale

    [im-peyl] /ɪmˈpeɪl/ verb (used with object), impaled, impaling. 1. to fasten, stick, or fix upon a sharpened stake or the like. 2. to pierce with a sharpened stake thrust up through the body, as for torture or punishment. 3. to fix upon, or pierce through with, anything pointed. 4. to make helpless as if pierced […]


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