From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\ (p[^a]r), n. [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of
par pair, fr. par, adj., equal. Cf. Apparel, Par
equality, Peer an equal.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A number of things resembling one another, or belonging
together; a set; as, a pair or flight of stairs. "A pair
of beads." --Chaucer. --Beau. & Fl. "Four pair of stairs."
--Macaulay.
Note: [Now mostly or quite disused.]
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Two crowns in my pocket, two pair of cards.
--Beau. & Fl.
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2. Two things of a kind, similar in form, suited to each
other, and intended to be used together; as, a pair of
gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes.
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3. Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a
pair of horses; a pair of oxen.
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4. A married couple; a man and wife. "A happy pair."
--Dryden. "The hapless pair." --Milton.
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5. A single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each
other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of
pants; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows.
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6. Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a
parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a
given question (in order, for example, to allow the
members to be absent during the vote without affecting the
outcome of the vote), or on issues of a party nature
during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the
final vote. [Parliamentary Cant]
Note: A member who is thus paired with one who would have
voted oppositely is said to be paired for or paired
against a measure, depending on the member's position.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
7. (Kinematics) In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies,
which are so applied to each other as to mutually
constrain relative motion.
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Note: Pairs are named in accordance with the kind of motion
they permit; thus, a journal and its bearing form a
turning pair, a cylinder and its piston a {sliding
pair}, a screw and its nut a twisting pair, etc. Any
pair in which the constraining contact is along lines
or at points only (as a cam and roller acting
together), is designated a higher pair; any pair
having constraining surfaces which fit each other (as a
cylindrical pin and eye, a screw and its nut, etc.), is
called a lower pair.
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Pair royal (pl. Pairs Royal) three things of a sort; --
used especially of playing cards in some games, as
cribbage; as three kings, three "eight spots" etc. Four of
a kind are called a double pair royal. "Something in his
face gave me as much pleasure as a pair royal of naturals
in my own hand." --Goldsmith. "That great pair royal of
adamantine sisters [the Fates]." --Quarles. [Written
corruptly parial and prial.]
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Syn: Pair, Flight, Set.
Usage: Originally, pair was not confined to two things, but
was applied to any number of equal things (pares),
that go together. Ben Jonson speaks of a pair (set) of
chessmen; also, he and Lord Bacon speak of a pair
(pack) of cards. A "pair of stairs" is still in
popular use, as well as the later expression, "flight
of stairs."
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, v. t.
1. To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together,
as things which belong together, or which complement, or
are adapted to one another.
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Glossy jet is paired with shining white. --Pope.
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2. To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions
not to vote on a particular question or class of
questions. [Parliamentary Cant]
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Paired fins. (Zool.) See under Fin.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, v. t. [See Impair.]
To impair. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paired; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pairing.]
1. To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for
breeding.
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2. To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.
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My heart was made to fit and pair with thine.
--Rowe.
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3. Same as To pair off. See phrase below.
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To pair off, to separate from a group in pairs or couples;
specif. (Parliamentary Cant), to agree with one of the
opposite party or opinion to abstain from voting on
specified questions or issues. See Pair, n., 6.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
pair
n 1: a set of two similar things considered as a unit [syn:
pair, brace]
2: two items of the same kind [syn: couple, pair, twosome,
twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich,
duo, duet, dyad, duad]
3: two people considered as a unit
4: a poker hand with 2 cards of the same value
v 1: form a pair or pairs; "The two old friends paired off"
[syn: pair, pair off, partner off, couple]
2: bring two objects, ideas, or people together; "This fact is
coupled to the other one"; "Matchmaker, can you match my
daughter with a nice young man?"; "The student was paired
with a partner for collaboration on the project" [syn:
match, mate, couple, pair, twin]
3: occur in pairs [syn: pair, geminate]
4: arrange in pairs; "Pair these numbers" [syn: pair,
geminate]
5: engage in sexual intercourse; "Birds mate in the Spring"
[syn: copulate, mate, pair, couple]