peer1
- a person of the same legal status: a jury of one's peers.
- a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.
- something of equal worth or quality: a sky-scraper without peer.
- a nobleman.
- a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron).
- Archaic. a companion.
Origin of peer1
peer2
- to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly.
- to peep out or appear slightly.
- to come into view.
Origin of peer2
Synonyms
See more synonyms for peer on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for peer
Contemporary Examples
His explanation only diminishes the irresistible excitement we feel while watching Tony Perkins peer at Janet Leigh in her shower.
Notice how he says it is Gore who rejects “openness” and “peer review.”
As I waited to speak to Manning, a cleaning woman poked her head out from one of the adjacent rooms to peer at me.
In fact, this leader is roughly a peer of those once-influential figures.
Detectives are then ranked by past performance and peer reviews, gaining or losing influence with each case.
Historical Examples
And working men may keep the wall, and jostle prince and peer.
In the Peer's gallery were the foremost members of the House of Lords.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
His father was a peer of France, one of the old nobility, and a General of Engineers.
Heroes of the TelegraphJ. Munro
Blinky snorted and stamped over to the window, stooping to peer at the machine.
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
A peer, a minister, a stranger to the county,—to come all this way to consult him!
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
peer1
- a member of a nobility; nobleman
- a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baronSee also life peer
- a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age, etc
- (as modifier)peer pressure
- archaic a companion; mate
Word Origin
peer2
- to look intently with or as if with difficultyto peer into the distance
- to appear partially or dimlythe sun peered through the fog
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for peer
n.
c.1300, "an equal in rank or status" (early 13c. in Anglo-Latin), from Anglo-French peir, Old French per (10c.), from Latin par "equal" (see par (n.)). Sense of "a noble" (late 14c.) is from Charlemagne's Twelve Peers in the old romances, who, like the Arthurian knights of the Round Table, originally were so called because all were equal. Sociological sense of "one of the same age group or social set" is from 1944. Peer review attested by 1970. Peer pressure is first recorded 1971.
v.
"to look closely," 1590s, variant of piren (late 14c.), with a long -i-, probably related to or from East Frisian piren "to look," of uncertain origin. Influenced in form and sense by Middle English peren (late 14c.), shortened form of aperen (see appear). Related: Peered; peering.