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Webster 1913 Edition

Impair

Im-pair′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Impaired
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Impairing
.]
[Written also
empair
.]
[OE.
empeiren
,
enpeiren
, OF.
empeirier
,
empirier
, F.
empirer
, LL.
impejorare
; L. pref.
im-
in +
pejorare
to make worse, fr.
pejor
worse. Cf.
Appair
.]
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.
Syn. – To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.

Im-pair′

,
Verb.
T.
To grow worse; to deteriorate.
Milton.

Im′pair

,
Adj.
[F.
impair
uneven, L.
impar
;
im-
not +
par
equal.]
Not fit or appropriate.
[Obs.]

Im-pair′

,
Noun.
Diminution; injury.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Impair

IMPA'IR

,
Verb.
T.
[L. pejor.]
1.
To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value or excellence. An estate is impaired by extravagance or neglect. The profligate impairs his estate and his reputation.
Imprudence impairs a man's usefulness.
2.
To weaken; to enfeeble. The constitution is impaired by intemperance, by infirmity and by age. The force of evidence may be impaired by the suspicion of interest in the witness.

IMPA'IR

,
Verb.
I.
To be lessened or worn out. [Little used.]

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