impairment
(ɪmˈpɛəmənt)
Forms: see impair v.; also appairment.
[a. OF. empeirement, mod.F. empirement (12th c. in Littré), f. empeirer, empirer to impair: see -ment.]
The action of impairing, or fact of being impaired; deterioration; injurious lessening or weakening.
| 1340 Ayenb. 148 Yef he ne deþ wyþ-oute emparement. c 1400 St. Alexius (Laud MS.) 255 To londe þai gonnen aryuen alle, Wiþouten enpeirement. 1531–2 Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 9 §2 To the great impeirement & diminucions of their good names and honesties. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. viii. (1632) 582 A greater impayrement of his hopes. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 98 A manifest impairment of his health. 1861 Wynter Soc. Bees, Brain Diffic. 471 The following extraordinary impairment of memory. |