Etymologically
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pair

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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
  • 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)