PAIRING • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Pairing

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/pˈɛrɪŋ/ Listen

noun

Pairing n.

1.

The act or process of uniting or arranging in pairs or couples.

2.

See To pair off, under Pair, v. i.

Pairing time, the time when birds or other animals pair.

verb

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."

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. (Zool.) See under Fin.

Pair v. t. To impair. (Obs.)

Pair v. i. (past & past part. paired; pres. part. pairing)

1.

To be joined in pairs; 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."

3.

Same as To pair off. See phrase below.

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.

See images of 'Pairing'

Etymology of 'Pairing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Pairing" Quotes from Famous Books

... discussing the arrangements with Mrs. Hargreaves, and seeing that a dozen of claret which his orderly had at his orders brought across, with a basket of fruit, was properly secured on the roof, they sauntered off with the girls, soon insensibly pairing off. ...

— In Times of Peril • G. A. Henty

... as they remain celibate we are prepared with some sort of ideas about the future development of their social life, clubs, hostels, living-in, and so forth. But at present we haven't any ideas at all about the adaptation of the natural pairing instinct to the new state of affairs. Ultimately the employee marries; they hold out as long as they possibly can, but ultimately they have to. They have to, even in the face of an economic system that holds out no prospects of anything but insecurity ...

— The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman • H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

... lamp he consulted his watch, but even without that he knew what the hour was. Prayer meeting at the corner church was over; boys of his own age were ranging themselves along the curb, waiting for the girl of the moment. When she came, a youth would appear miraculously beside her, and the world-old pairing off ...

— K • Mary Roberts Rinehart

... a pudding in his belly, and an apple in his mouth; the pigeons were snugly put to bed in a comfortable pie, and tucked in with a coverlet of crust; the geese were swimming in their own gravy, and the ducks pairing cosily in dishes, like snug married couples, with a decent competency of onion-sauce. In the porkers he saw carved out the future sleek side of bacon, and juicy relishing ham; not a turkey but he beheld daintily trussed up, with its gizzard ...

— Washington Irving • Charles Dudley Warner

... is of very ancient origin. It is doubtful whether even the primitive man was not governed in the intercourse of the sexes by some recognition of the union being confined to one chosen one. No greater promiscuity can certainly be supposed than occurs in the lower animals, where pairing is the law. The nobler animals, as the lion, elephant, etc., never have but one mate, and even in case of death do not remate. As men advanced, civil codes were inaugurated and certain protection given to the choice of the parties. The earliest ...

— The Ladies Book of Useful Information - Compiled from many sources • Anonymous

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