impair

B1 Topic:Cause, Change & Process

US /ɪmˈpɛɹ/ UK /ɪmˈpɛə/ See IPA manual

verb adj noun Freq #50388

Meanings

1

verb
To make something worse or weaker, especially an ability or function.

Drinking alcohol can seriously impair your ability to drive.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something worse or... spoil

More hinder

Word family

Forms impairedimpairingimpairs

Derived forms impairableimpairerimpairment

Related forms pejorationpejorative

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”).

impairen Middle English empoirier Old French impeioro la-eme peiōrō la-lat

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Topics

Cause, Change & Process

# impair

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, adj, noun
**IPA (US):** ɪmˈpɛɹ
**IPA (UK):** ɪmˈpɛə
**Frequency rank:** 50388

## Meanings
1. To make something worse or weaker, especially an ability or function.

## Examples
- Drinking alcohol can seriously impair your ability to drive.

## Synonyms
- hinder

## Derived Forms
- impairable
- impairer
- impairment

## Related Forms
- pejoration
- pejorative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: impairen
- Root: empoirier
- Root: impeioro
- Root: peiōrō

## 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”).

## AI Etymology
Impair comes 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 analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named elements. The historical line also includes empoirier (Old French), impeioro (la-eme), and peiōrō (la-lat). In current use, the main sense is “To make something worse or weaker, especially an ability or function”.

## Topics
- Cause, Change & Process

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impair

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