Added 9 October 2026
impair
/ɪmˈpɛə/ verb
Latin root: impeiōrāre Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about impair at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
- To grow worse; to deteriorate.
adjective
- Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.
noun
- The act of impairing or deteriorating.
- The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
- An impairment or deterioration.
Origin
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”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)