pair

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /peə/, US /per/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English peire,^[2][3] borrowed from Old French paire (“pair, couple”) and directly from Medieval Latin paria (“equals”),^[4][2] the neuter plural of Latin pār (“equal; a pair, counterpart”) (genitive paris),^[4][2] of unknown origin.^[2] Merriam-Webster takes it as probably related to Greek pernanai “to sell”.^[3] It is related to par, peer, parity, compare, disparage, nonpareil and umpire.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A set of two, two of a kind coupled in use: about 1250 in Barnhart^[2] and the mid-13th century in Etymonline,^[4] and 1278 in the OED.^[6] It was first used of things.^[4]

Semantic evolution

A single article made of two parts, such as shears, tongs or spectacles, is from 1297 in the OED^[6] and the late 14th century in Etymonline,^[4] and a set of beads from the 14th century and of stairs from the 16th.^[7] Of persons, a couple united by love or marriage, it is from 1377,^[6] or the late 14th century in Etymonline,^[4] and a mated couple of animals from the 14th century.^[6] Partners in a dance are from 1770.^[6] The verb, “to be a match for” and “to arrange in pairs”, is from 1603 and 1607,^[2] with pair off from 1783 and pair up from 1863.^[4] Pair bond, of mating birds, is from 1940.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 1250 – a set of two.^[2]
• 1297 – a two-part article.^[6]
• 1377 – a couple.^[6]
• 1603 – verb.^[2]
• 1770 – dance partners.^[6]
• 1783 – pair off.^[4]
• 1863 – pair up.^[4]
• 1940 – pair bond.^[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Two matching things used together: a pair of shoes.
2. A single object made of two joined parts: a pair of scissors.
3. Two people joined in marriage or partnership; a couple.
4. Two mated animals.
5. In card games, two cards of the same value.

Verb

1. To arrange in pairs.
2. To join in a pair; to mate.
3. To provide with a partner.

Word family

• pairwise
• pairing
• base pair
• electron pair
• minimal pair
• ordered pair

Related words

• parity
• par
• peer
• compare
• disparage
• nonpareil
• umpire
• impair

Usage notes

A separate, archaic pair, “to impair”, is short for Middle English apeyren, from Old French empeirier.^[3][6] In Scots and northern English dialect, pair meant “to impair, deteriorate”.^[8]

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)