Impair

Alternative forms

• empair obsolete, rare

Origin

From Old French empeirier, variant of empirier ("to worsen"), from Vulgar Latin *impēiōrō, from im- + Late Latin pēiōrō ("to make worse"), from peior ("worse"), comparative of malus ("bad").

Full definition of impair

Verb

1. (transitive) To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
2. (intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.

Derived terms

• impairment

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Not fit or appropriate.