Impair Definition
ĭm-pâr
impaired, impairs
verb
impaired, impairs
To make worse, less, weaker, etc.; reduce an ability or function.
Webster's New World
To cause to weaken, be damaged, or diminish, as in quality.
An injury that impaired my hearing; a severe storm impairing communications.
American Heritage
Of property or a contractual right, to interfere in such a way as to diminish its value.
Webster's New World Law
To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
Wiktionary
(intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
adjective
(obsolete) Not fit or appropriate.
Wiktionary
Origin of Impair
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Middle English empairen from Old French empeirer from Vulgar Latin impēiōrāre Latin in- causative pref. in–2 Latin pēior worse ped- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Old French empeirier, variant of empirier (“to worsen”), from Vulgar Latin *impēiōrō, from im- + Late Latin pēiōrō (“to make worse”), from peior (“worse”), comparative of malus (“bad”).
From Wiktionary
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