impair
pronunciation
How to pronounce impair in British English:
UK [ɪmˈpeə(r)]
How to pronounce impair in American English:
US [ɪmˈper]
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- Verb:
- make worse or less effective
- make imperfect
Word Origin
- impair
- impair: [14] If to repair something is to ‘put it right’, it seems logical that to impair something should be to ‘make it wrong’. In fact, though, logic has nothing to do with it, for the two words are quite unrelated. Repair comes ultimately from Latin parāre ‘make ready’, whereas impair goes back via Old French empeirier to Vulgar Latin *impējōrāre ‘make worse’.
- impair (v.)
- late 14c., earlier ampayre, apeyre (c. 1300), from Old French empeirier (Modern French empirer), from Vulgar Latin *impeiorare "make worse," from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + Late Latin peiorare "make worse" (see pejorative). In reference to driving under the influence of alcohol, first recorded 1951 in Canadian English. Related: Impaired; impairing.
Example
- 1. New studies show low vitamin d levels may impair cognitive function
- 2. Still , it would be foolish for the uk authorities to impair kaupthing 's assets further .
- 3. Their inability to scowl seemed to impair their ability to see why pushy telemarketers or a lack of birthday wishes might make one 's face fall .
- 4. More than 15 million adult americans suffer from diseases of the kidneys , which often impair the ability of the organs to remove toxins from the blood .
- 5. Because loud sounds , for example from whizzing speedboats , distract them , and apparently impair their predatory skills .