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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. [Now mostly or
quite disused, except as to stairs.] |
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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. |
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Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair
of horses; a pair of oxen. |
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A married couple; a man and wife. |
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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. |
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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. |
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In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied
to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion. |
• |
To be joined in paris; to couple; to mate, as for
breeding. |
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To suit; to fit, as a counterpart. |
• |
Same as To pair off. See phrase below. |
• |
To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together,
as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to
one another. |
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To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions
not to vote on a particular question or class of questions. |
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To impair. |