to put two people or things together so they work, look, or function well together
Red wine is often paired with steak.
Please pair your phone with the car’s Bluetooth system.
✦ Verb use comes from the noun in late Middle English, meaning ‘to form a set of two’.
to fix something that is damaged or not working so it can be used again
The mechanic repaired the car's engine in just two hours.
I will repair my broken bike this weekend.
✦ From Old French reparer, from Latin reparare meaning “to make ready again”.
a feeling of great hopelessness and lack of hope for the future
The failure of the crops filled the farmers with despair.
She sank into despair after losing her job.
✦ From Middle English despair, despoir, from Old French despoir, from Latin dēsspērāre, present active infinitive of dēsspērō (“to be without hope, despair of”), from dē- (“away”) + spērō (“to hope”).
to lose all hope and confidence; to give up hope
Don't despair; better times are coming.
She began to despair after months without contact.
✦ From Middle English despairen, despoiren, from Old French desperer, from Latin dēsspērāre, present active infinitive of dēsspērō.
to weaken or damage something, making it less efficient or effective.
Drinking too much alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely.
The virus impaired her sense of smell completely.
✦ From Middle English empeire, from Anglo-Norman empairer and Old French empeirier (“to make worse”), from Late Latin impediōrō, from Latin in- (“in”) + Late Latin pējorō (“to make worse”).
