impair
(verb) make worse or less effective; “His vision was impaired”
mar, impair, spoil, deflower, vitiate
(verb) make imperfect; “nothing marred her beauty”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
impair (third-person singular simple present impairs, present participle impairing, simple past and past participle impaired)
(transitive) To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
(intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.
• blunt, diminish, hurt, lessen, mar, reduce, weaken, worsen
impair (comparative more impair, superlative most impair)
(obsolete) Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.
Source: Wiktionary
Im*pair", v. t. [imp & p. p. Impaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Impairing.] [Written also empair.] Etym: [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.]
Definition: 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", v. t.
Definition: To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.
Im"pair, a. Etym: [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.]
Definition: Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.]
Im*pair", n.
Definition: Diminution; injury. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 November 2024
(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
