impair
verb
- hinder or damage
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpɛə/ / /ɪmˈpɛː/ / /ɪmˈpɛɹ/
adj
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”).
- Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.
“giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty, / Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:”
noun
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”).
- The act of impairing or deteriorating.
- The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
- An impairment or deterioration.
“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?”
verb
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”).
- To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
“In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that impairs the ability to communicate.”
- To grow worse; to deteriorate.
“Flesh may empaire,[…]but reason can repaire.”