Wordwyrt

impair

/ˌɪmˈpeə/im-PUH
/ˌɪmˈpɛɹ/im-PER

Meaningto make worse

Common meaning: weaken or damage

Journey through time

  1. Late Latinimpeiorare‘to make worse’source
  2. Middle Englishmeaning shiftsto make worse → worsenempeiren‘worsen’source
  3. Englishmeaning shiftsworsen → weaken or damageimpair‘weaken or damage’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Late Latin impeiorare ‘to make worse’.

Roots

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