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: repair

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.

impair

/ ɪmˈpɛə /

verb

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

   his hearing was impaired by an accident

Other Word Forms

• impairment noun
• impairer noun
• impairable adjective
• nonimpairment noun
• preimpairment noun
• self-impairable adjective
• self-impairing adjective
• unimpairable adjective

Word 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 pējōrāre, verb derivative of Latin pējor “worse”; pejoration )

Origin of impair²

First recorded in 1820–30; from French: literally, “odd,” from Latin impār “odd, unequal”; equivalent to im- ² ( def. ) + pair ² ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of impair¹

C14: from Old French empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin pējorāre, from Latin pejor worse; see _pejorative

Synonym Study

See injure.

Example Sentences

But this couldn’t be chalked up to an impaired or distracted driver.

From Los Angeles Times

It described an autistic child as one who, by the age of 2½, showed impaired communication, unusual responses to their environment and a lack of interest in other people.

From Los Angeles Times

He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £150 in costs after admitting performing an aviation function while impaired by drugs.

From BBC

"Obviously it's harder to navigate in fog, but maybe what we what people don't appreciate is that it also impairs our ability to estimate distance."

From BBC

She said her ability to raise concerns earlier was impaired by her autism and the "toxic and bullying environment I was subjected to".

From BBC

Related Words

• blunt 
• damage 
• debilitate 
• decrease 
• destroy 
• diminish 
• hurt 
• lessen 
• mar 
• prejudice 
• reduce 
• spoil 
• tarnish 
• undermine 
• weaken 
• worsen