pair
English meaning: Pair
Definition
Two things of the same kind that are used or go together.
Example
“I bought a new pair of shoes.”
Another example: “The students worked in pairs to complete the exercise.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Everyday and neutral; a noun for two matching things used together ('a pair of shoes') or two people together ('a pair of dancers'). Note that single two-part objects take 'a pair of' ('a pair of trousers', 'a pair of scissors').
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'paire', from Latin 'paria' (equals).
Related Words
Common Collocations
- a pair of
- pair up
- matching pair
- pair of shoes
- in pairs
Word Forms
pair (n); pairs; pair (v, 'pair up'); paired
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B