pair
- pair
-
I. noun
(plural pairs or pair)
Etymology: Middle English paire, from Anglo-French, from Latin paria equal things, from neuter plural of par equal
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) two corresponding things designed for use together <
a pair of shoes
>
(2) two corresponding bodily parts or members <a pair of hands
>
b. something made up of two corresponding pieces <a pair of trousers
>
2.
a. two similar or associated things: as
(1) two mated animals
(2) a couple in love, engaged, or married <were a devoted pair
>
(3) two playing cards of the same value or denomination and especially of the same rank
(4) two horses harnessed side by side
(5) two members of a deliberative body that agree not to vote on a specific issue during a time agreed on; also an agreement not to vote made by the two members
b. a partnership especially of two players in a contest against another partnership
3. chiefly dialect a set or series of small objects (as beads)
II. verb
Date: 1606
transitive verb
1.
a. to make a pair of — often used with off or up <paired off the animals
>
b. to cause to be a member of a pair
c. to arrange a voting pair between
2. to arrange in pairs
intransitive verb
1. to constitute a member of a pair <a sock that didn't pair
>
2.
a. to become associated with another — often used with off or up <paired up with an old friend
>
b. to become grouped or separated into pairs — often used with off <paired off for the next dance
>
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
pair — pair … Dictionnaire des rimes
pair — pair, aire (pêr, pê r ) adj. 1° Égal, semblable, pareil ; ne se dit plus, en ce sens, que dans la locution : sans pair. • Elles [deux chèvres] avaient la gloire De compter dans leur race, à ce que dit l histoire, L une certaine chèvre au… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
Pair — (p[^a]r), n. [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of par pair, fr. par, adj., equal. Cf. {Apparel}, {Par} equality, {Peer} an equal.] [1913 Webster] 1. A number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set; as, a pair or flight… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pair — 1. Used as a collective noun, pair is treated as a plural when it denotes two separate items and as a singular when it denotes a unit: so a pair of gloves, scissors, scales, shoes, trousers, etc. are singular whereas a pair of bachelors, dogs,… … Modern English usage
pair — [per] n. pl. pairs or pair [ME paire < OFr < L paria, neut. pl. of par, equal: see PAR1] 1. two similar or corresponding things joined, associated, or used together [a pair of gloves] 2. a single thing made up of two corresponding parts… … English World dictionary
pair — [peə ǁ per] verb [transitive] 1. COMMERCE if two companies, people, or things are paired, they are put into groups of two because they are connected in some way or will work together: • When the new products were paired, encouraging customer… … Financial and business terms
pair up — ˌpair ˈup [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they pair up he/she/it pairs up present participle pairing up past tense … Useful english dictionary
pair — PAIR, pairi, s.m. Titlu purtat de marii vasali ai regelui în Franţa şi în Anglia în evul mediu. ♦ Membru (pe viaţă) al uneia dintre cele două camere legislative din Franţa între 1815 şi 1848. ♦ Titlu de nobleţe în Marea Britanie, care conferă… … Dicționar Român
Pair — Pair, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Paired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pairing}.] 1. To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding. [1913 Webster] 2. To suit; to fit, as a counterpart. [1913 Webster] My heart was made to fit and pair with thine. Rowe … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pair — 〈[pɛ:r] Adj.; Roulett; bei Zahlen〉 gerade; Ggs impair [frz.] * * * pair [pɛ:ɐ̯ ] <Adj.> [frz. pair < afrz. per < lat. par, ↑ Paar]: (von den Zahlen beim Roulette) gerade. * * * pair [pɛː … Universal-Lexikon
Pair — 〈[ pɛ:r] m. 6; im alten Frankreich〉 Angehöriger des politisch bevorzugten Hochadels [frz. <lat. paria „Gleiches“] * * * pair [pɛ:ɐ̯ ] <Adj.> [frz. pair < afrz. per < lat. par, ↑ Paar]: (von den Zahlen beim Roulette) gerade. * * *… … Universal-Lexikon
