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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\ (p[^a]r), noun [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of par pair, fr. par, adjective, equal. Cf. {Apparel}, {Par} equality, {Peer} an equal.]
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.]
Two crowns in my pocket, two pair of cards. --Beau. & Fl.
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.
3. Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen.
4. A married couple; a man and wife. "A happy pair." --Dryden. "The hapless pair." --Milton.
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.
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.
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}.
{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}.]
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."
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, verb (used with an object)
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.
Glossy jet is paired with shining white. --Pope.
2. To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions. [Parliamentary Cant]
{Paired fins}. (Zool.) See under {Fin}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, verb (used with an object) [See {Impair}.] To impair. [Obs.] --Spenser.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Paired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pairing}.]
1. To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding.
2. To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.
My heart was made to fit and pair with thine. --Rowe.
3. Same as {To pair off}. See phrase below.
{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}, noun, 6.
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
noun
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
verb
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}]
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Definitions retrieved from the Open Source DICT Webster's English and WordNet 3.0 dictionaries. Click here for database copyright information.
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