impair

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   make worse or less effective

   The goggles impaired their vision.

2. 2
   verb

   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.

3. 3
   verb

   To grow worse; to deteriorate.

   Flesh may empaire,[…]but reason can repaire.

4. 4
   adj

   Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.

   giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty, / Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:

5. 5
   noun

   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?

6. 6
   verb

   make imperfect

7. 7
   noun

   The act of impairing or deteriorating.

8. 8
   noun

   The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.

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”).