pair

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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.] [1913 Webster]

Two crowns in my pocket, two pair of cards.— Beau. & Fl.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3.Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen. [1913 Webster]

4.A married couple; a man and wife. "A happy pair." --Dryden. "The hapless pair." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5.A single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of pants; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows. [1913 Webster]

6.Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question (in order, for example, to allow the members to be absent during the vote without affecting the outcome of the vote), or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the final vote. [Parliamentary Cant]

Note: A member who is thus paired with one who would have voted oppositely is said to be paired for or paired against a measure, depending on the member's position. [1913 Webster +PJC]

7.(Kinematics) In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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.] [1913 Webster]

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." [1913 Webster]

1.To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding. [1913 Webster]

2.To suit; to fit, as a counterpart. [1913 Webster]

My heart was made to fit and pair with thine.— Rowe.[1913 Webster]

3.Same as To pair off. See phrase below. [1913 Webster]

To pair off, to separate from a group in pairs or couples; specif. (Parliamentary Cant), to agree with one of the opposite party or opinion to abstain from voting on specified questions or issues. See Pair, n., 6. [1913 Webster]

1.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. [1913 Webster]

Glossy jet is paired with shining white.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions. [Parliamentary Cant] [1913 Webster]

Paired fins. (Zool.) See under Fin. [1913 Webster]