(n.) 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.]
(n.) 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.
(n.) Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair
of horses; a pair of oxen.
(n.) A married couple; a man and wife.
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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.
(n.) In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied
to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion.
(v. i.) To be joined in paris; to couple; to mate, as for
breeding.
(v. i.) To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.
(v. i.) Same as To pair off. See phrase below.
(v. t.) 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.
(v. t.) To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions
not to vote on a particular question or class of questions.
(v. t.) To impair.
