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   pair

   /pɛː/

   noun

   • 1. a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit: "a pair of gloves" Similar set of twosetmatching setmatched settwo of a kind
   • ▪ two people related in some way or considered together: "a company run by a pair of brothers" Similar twocoupleduoduologybracetwosometwinsarchaic:twainrare:dupletdyadduaddoubletoncoupleman and wifehusband and wifepartnerslovers
   • ▪ a mated couple of animals: "76 pairs of red kites" Similar twocoupleduoduologybracetwosometwinsarchaic:twainrare:dupletdyadduaddoubleton
   • ▪ two horses harnessed side by side: "she enjoys driving her pair" Similar two horsesteamyokespan
   • ▪ the second member of a pair in relation to the first: "each course member tries to persuade his pair of the merits of his model"
   • ▪ two playing cards of the same denomination: "Jacobs had two pairs"
   • 2. an article consisting of two joined or corresponding parts not used separately: "a pair of jeans" Similar set of twosetmatching setmatched settwo of a kind
   • 3. either or both of two members of a legislative assembly on opposite sides who absent themselves from voting by mutual arrangement, leaving the relative position of the parties unaffected: "one minister was flatly refused a pair by his Tory opposite number"

   verb

   • 1. put together or join to form a pair: "she wore a cardigan paired with a matching skirt"
   • ▪ (of animals) form a pair for breeding purposes: "killer whales pair for life"
   • 2. give (a member of a legislative assembly) another member as a pair, to allow both to absent themselves from a vote without affecting the result: "arrangements are usually made between the party whips for an absent member on one side to be paired with an absentee on the other"
   • 3. wirelessly connect (an electronic device) to another via Bluetooth: "you'll now be able to pair your watch directly with a set of Bluetooth headphones"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French paire, from Latin paria ‘equal things’, neuter plural of par ‘equal’. Formerly phrases such as a pair of gloves were expressed without of, as in a pair gloves (compare with German ein Paar Handschuhe).

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • R

     1

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