From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pair \Pair\ (p[^a]r), n. [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of
par pair, fr. par, adj., equal. Cf. {Apparel}, {Par}
equality, {Peer} an equal.]
[1913 Webster]
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.]
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Two crowns in my pocket, two pair of cards.
--Beau. & Fl.
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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.
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3. Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a
pair of horses; a pair of oxen.
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4. A married couple; a man and wife. "A happy pair."
--Dryden. "The hapless pair." --Milton.
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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.
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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.
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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]
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