6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Thermoelectric  couple  \Ther`mo*e*lec"tric  couple\  or  pair  \pair\ 
  (Elec.) 
  A  union  of  two  conductors,  as  bars  or  wires  of  dissimilar 
  metals  joined  at  their  extremities,  for  producing  a 
  thermoelectric  current. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pair  \Pair\,  v.  t. 
  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. 
 
  Glossy  jet  is  paired  with  shining  white.  --Pope. 
 
  2.  To  engage  (one's  self)  with  another  of  opposite  opinions 
  not  to  vote  on  a  particular  question  or  class  of 
  questions.  [Parliamentary  Cant] 
 
  {Paired  fins}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  under  {Fin}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pair  \Pair\,  v.  t.  [See  {Impair}.] 
  To  impair.  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pair  \Pair\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Paired};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Pairing}.] 
  1.  To  be  joined  in  paris;  to  couple;  to  mate,  as  for 
  breeding. 
 
  2.  To  suit;  to  fit  as  a  counterpart. 
 
  My  heart  was  made  to  fit  and  pair  with  thine. 
  --Rowe. 
 
  3.  Same  as  {To  pair  off}.  See  phrase  below. 
 
  {To  pair  off},  to  separate  from  a  company  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. 
 
  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  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  pair 
  n  1:  a  set  of  two  similar  things  considered  as  a  unit  [syn:  {brace}] 
  2:  two  items  of  the  same  kind  [syn:  {couple},  {doubleton},  {twosome}, 
  {twain},  {brace},  {span},  {yoke},  {couplet},  {distich},  {duo}, 
  {duet},  {dyad},  {duad}] 
  3:  two  people  considered  as  a  unit 
  4:  a  poker  hand  with  2  cards  of  the  same  value 
  v  1:  form  a  pair  or  pairs;  "The  two  old  friends  paired  off"  [syn: 
  {pair  off},  {partner  off},  {couple}] 
  2:  bring  two  objects,  ideas,  or  people  together;  "This  fact  is 
  coupled  to  the  other  one"  [syn:  {match},  {mate},  {couple}, 
  {twin}] 
  3:  make  love;  "Birds  mate  in  the  Spring"  [syn:  {copulate},  {mate}, 
  {couple}] 

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