browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
parial |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pair \Pair\, n. [F. paire, LL paria, L. paria, pl of par pair, fr par, adj., 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, except as to stairs.] 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 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, or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as there were two pairs on the final vote. [Parliamentary Cant] 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}.] Syn: {Pair}, {Flight}, {Set}. 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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Parial \Pa*ri"al\, n. See {Pair royal}, under {Pair}, n.
This work is licensed under a
