impair Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make worse or less effective
    • His vision was impaired
  2. verb make imperfect
    mar; deflower; vitiate; spoil.
    • nothing marred her beauty

WordNet

Im*pair" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Impaired ; present participle & verbal noun Impairing
Definitions
  1. To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind, value.
    Time sensibly all things impairs. Roscommon.
    In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. Pope.
    Syn. -- To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.
Im*pair" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.
Im"pair adjective
Etymology
F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.
Definitions
  1. Not fit or appropriate. Obs.
Im*pair" noun
Definitions
  1. Diminution; injury. Obs.

Webster 1913