par

¹

[ pahr ]

noun

1. Finance.
   1. the legally established value of the monetary unit of one country in terms of that of another using the same metal as a standard of value.
   2. the state of the shares of any business, undertaking, loan, etc., when they may be purchased at the original price issue par or at their face value nominal par.
2. an equality in value or standing; a level of equality:

   The gains and the losses are on a par.

3. an average, usual, or normal amount, degree, quality, condition, standard, or the like:

   above par;

   to feel below par.

4. Golf. the number of strokes set as a standard for a specific hole or a complete course.

adjective

1. average or normal.
2. Finance. at or pertaining to par:

   the par value of a bond.

verb (used with object)

, parred, par·ring.

1. Golf. to equal par on (a hole or course).

par

²

[ pahr ]

adjective

, Insurance.

1. of or relating to participating insurance.

par-

³

1. variant of para- ¹ before a vowel:

   parenchyma.

par.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. paragraph.
2. parallel.
3. parenthesis.
4. parish.

Par.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Paraguay

par

²

/ pɑː /

noun

1. an accepted level or standard, such as an average (esp in the phrase up to par )
2. a state of equality (esp in the phrase on a par with )
3. finance the established value of the unit of one national currency in terms of the unit of another where both are based on the same metal standard
4. commerce
   1. See par value
   2. the condition of equality between the current market value of a share, bond, etc, and its face value (the nominal par ). This equality is indicated by at par, while above ( or below ) par indicates that the market value is above (or below) face value
5. golf an estimated standard score for a hole or course that a good player should make

   par for the course was 72

6. below par
   below parunder par not feeling or performing as well as normal
7. par for the course
   par for the course an expected or normal occurrence or situation

adjective

1. average or normal
2. usually prenominal commerce of or relating to par

   par value

par-

³

prefix

1. See para-
   a variant of para- 1

par.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. paragraph
2. parenthesis
3. parish

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin pār “matching, equal”

Origin of par²

Shortening of participating

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

C17: from Latin pār equal, on a level; see peer ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at par, Finance. (of a share) purchasable at issue par or nominal par.
2. par for the course, exactly what one might expect; predictable; typical:

   They were late again, but that's par for the course.

More idioms and phrases containing par

In addition to the idiom beginning with par , also see below par ; on a par with ; up to par .

Example Sentences

There are only 175 countries on that list, which puts Russia on a par with Lebanon and Nigeria.

From The Daily Beast

A “komitetchik par excellence,” a man of “outstanding mediocrity,” and “the grave digger of the revolution.”

From The Daily Beast

The city is incredibly violent for its size, on par with metropolises that dwarf the town.

From The Daily Beast

A life-sized poster of Par Gyi greeted guests at the entrance.

From The Daily Beast

At least five Islamists were killed, according to Seyhmus Tanrikulu, a Huda-Par leader.

From The Daily Beast

The intellectual temperament finds voice in many great expressions, which are very Dante and also very Thomas, as Par.

From Project Gutenberg

D'o l'on peut aussy veoir, quelle esperance il y a de planter une belle chrestient par tels evangelistes.

From Project Gutenberg

L'adieu et le deuil se clost par l'occision des chiens ce que le mourant ait des avants-coureurs en l'autre monde.

From Project Gutenberg

C'est asss demeur la maison; sortons un peu dehors, comme nous avons promis de faire, et racontons ce qui s'est pass par le pays.

From Project Gutenberg

Aprs qu'ils nous eurent recogneus, ils demenerent grande joye le soir leur accoustume, par danses, chansons et harangues.

From Project Gutenberg