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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. quotations examples
In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that impairs the ability to communicate.
2020 January 22, Stuart Jeffries, “Terry Jones obituary”, in The Guardian
(intransitive, archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate. quotations
Flesh may empaire, […] but reason can repaire.
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie
comparative more impair, superlative most impair
(obsolete) Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable. quotations
giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty, / Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath:
c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene v]
plural impair or impairs
(obsolete) The act of impairing or deteriorating.
(obsolete) The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
(obsolete) An impairment or deterioration. quotations
Suppoſe a mans credit ſhould ſuffer an impair with thoſe whoſe cenſure is not to be valued; yet think, which is worſe, ſhame or ſin? Wilt thou ſin againſt God to ſave thy credit?
1671, Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, pages 146–147