impair
/ɪmˈpɛɹ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.93 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that impairs the ability to communicate."
- "Flesh may empaire,[…]but reason can repaire."
- "giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty, / Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:"
- "Suppoſe a mans credit ſhould ſuffer an impair with thoſe whoſe cenſure is not to be valued; yet think, which is worſe, ſhame or ſin? Wilt thou ſin againſt God to ſave thy credit?"
Etymology
From Middle English impairen, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, from Early Medieval Latin impeiōrāre, from in- + Late Latin peiōrāre (“worsen”), from peiōrem (“worse”), comparative of malus (“bad”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: impairen, empoirier, impeioro, peiōrō
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪmˈpɛɹ/
- British English: /ɪmˈpɛə/
Usage
Inflected Forms
impairs (present, singular)
impairing (participle, present)
impaired (participle, past)
impaired (past)
empair (alternative, obsolete)
more impair (comparative)
most impair (superlative)
impairs (plural)