impair

¹ American  

[an-per] / ɛ̃ˈpɛr /

adjective

French.

1. noting any odd number, especially in roulette.

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impair ² American  

[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.

   Antonyms:

   repair

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verb (used without object)

1. to grow or become worse; lessen.

noun

1. Archaic. impairment.

impair British  

/ ɪmˈpɛə /

verb

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

   his hearing was impaired by an accident

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Related Words

See injure.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of impair¹

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

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 )

Example Sentences

He hopes that a cure can be found so that his daughter, who is registered as visually impaired, can drive a car when she's older.

From BBC

Measures of heart function, including contraction strength and beating rhythm, were impaired by the cytokines but improved once the signaling was blocked.

From Science Daily

“This behavior inexorably causes waste, regulatory action that impairs operation and investment, and reduction of the intrinsic value” of the injection resource, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal

While stress remains in certain sectors, overall asset quality should improve further, with industry gross impaired loans now below prepandemic levels, she adds.

From The Wall Street Journal

In typical cases, the exposure damages the brain’s frontal lobe, which slows cognition, impairs impulse control, restricts dopamine production and affects mood.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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