impaired
UK: ɪmˈpeəd | US: ɪmˈperd
adj. weakened or damaged in function or quality
adj. (of a person) having a physical or mental disability
vt. past tense of "impair" (rare; usually "impair" is used directly as a verb)
impaired = im<not> + pair<make equal/ready> + ed<past participle>
- im<not>: From Latin in- (negation), meaning "not" or "opposite of."
- pair<make equal/ready>: From Old French empeirier (to worsen), derived from Vulgar Latin **impejorare (to make worse), combining in- + pejor (worse).
- ed<past participle>: English suffix indicating past tense or adjective form.
Etymology Origin:
The word "impaired" traces back to Latin roots, where im- negates the idea of being "equal" or "ready" (pair). Over time, it evolved through Old French to mean "worsened" or "damaged." The modern sense of physical/mental disability emerged in the 20th century, reflecting societal focus on inclusivity.
His vision was impaired after the accident.
The impaired driver was pulled over by the police.
The storm impaired communication lines in the area.
She advocates for rights of the hearing-impaired.
Alcohol impaired his judgment during the meeting.