pair
pair
Pronunciation
pair: /pɛər/
/p/ (voiceless bilabial plosive)
/ɛ/ (open-mid front unrounded vowel)
/ər/ (r-colored vowel, or schwa with r-coloring)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: pair
Plural Noun: pairs
Verb (base form): pair
Verb (third-person singular present): pairs
Verb (present participle): pairing
Verb (past tense/past participle): paired
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Two items of the same kind, designed to be used together or appearing naturally in a set.
Synonyms: couple, duo, brace, twosome
Antonyms: single, individual, solitaire
Definition 2: An article of clothing or equipment consisting of two matching parts that are joined.
Synonyms: set, matching set
Antonyms: (none readily applicable, as it describes a specific type of item)
Definition 3: Two people who are united in some way, such as by marriage, partnership, or friendship.
Synonyms: couple, partners, duo, team
Antonyms: individual, loner
Verb
Definition 1: To join or combine two things or people, often to form a set or partnership.
Synonyms: couple, match, join, unite, link, combine
Antonyms: separate, divide, unmatch, disjoin
Definition 2: (Of two things or people) to form a pair.
Synonyms: couple, join up
Antonyms: diverge, split apart
Examples of Use
Books:
"He kept a pair of binoculars on the windowsill, always ready to scan the horizon for ships." (From a novel describing a coastal setting)
"The old man gifted his grandson a meticulously carved wooden pair of doves, a symbol of peace and enduring love." (From a work of fiction focusing on intergenerational relationships)
Newspapers:
"The city council voted to pair the new zoning regulations with an initiative to support local businesses." (From a local newspaper)
"A pair of rare white rhinos was successfully relocated to a new sanctuary in a groundbreaking conservation effort." (From a national newspaper's science section)
Online Publications:
"For the adventurous traveler, consider packing a versatile pair of hiking boots that can transition from trail to town." (From an online travel blog)
"The tech giant announced its plans to pair artificial intelligence with quantum computing to tackle complex global challenges." (From a technology news website)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"In the latest episode, the detective and his unlikely pair of informants finally cracked the cold case." (From a crime drama television series, as reviewed on a streaming platform)
"The indie band's new album features a soulful ballad that perfectly pairs heartfelt lyrics with a melancholic melody." (From a music review on an online platform)
"Players can pair up with friends for cooperative missions, or face off in competitive online arenas." (From a video game's promotional material on a gaming platform)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to buy a new pair of glasses; my current ones are scratched." (Heard in a casual conversation at an optician's)
"They make a great pair; their personalities really complement each other." (Heard in a social gathering)
"Let's pair these two tasks together so we can be more efficient." (Heard in a workplace discussion)
10 Quotes Using Pair
"Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?" - George Gobel
"A pair of powerful spectacles has sometimes sufficed to cure a person in love." - Friedrich Nietzsche
"Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out." - Iris Murdoch
"Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them." - Sydney Smith
"There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair." - Friedrich Schiller
"Originality is simply a pair of fresh eyes." - Thomas Wentworth Higginson
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." - William Shakespeare (from Romeo and Juliet)
"I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator." - Mother Jones
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it. Beyond the pairs of opposites of which the world consists, other, new insights begin." - Hermann Hesse
"When strength is yoked with justice, where is a mightier pair than they?" - Aeschylus
Etymology
The word "eagle" has a long and interesting history!
Roots: It comes from the Latin word "aquila," which likely referred to the dark color of some eagle feathers.
Journey to English: Over time, "aquila" traveled through languages like Old French ("aigle") before arriving in English.
Early Use: The earliest known use of "eagle" in English was around the 14th century, and it simply meant the large bird of prey we know today.
So, essentially, the word "eagle" has its roots in the Latin word for a bird with dark feathers, and it's been used in English to describe this majestic creature for centuries!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pair
A pair of hands: Referring to a person or two people available for work or help.
A pair of fresh eyes: A new perspective on a problem or situation.
Pair off: To form pairs, often for an activity or relationship.
Pair up: To join with someone else to form a pair.
Odds and sods (or odds and ends): Though not directly using "pair," this idiom refers to miscellaneous leftover items, which are often unpaired.
A mixed bag: While not using "pair," this refers to a group of diverse or unmatched items or people.
To go hand in hand: To be closely associated or paired together.
Two of a kind: Two people or things that are very similar or well-matched.
To make a good pair: To be well-suited to each other.
A pair of heels: (Figurative, often humorous) Referring to running away or departing quickly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of pair from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
