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pair

peer, equal

noun PEHR Rare
People & Society Relationships

Origin: Latin 'par' (equal)

Also means

peer (nobleman)

Usage Note

Pair most commonly appears in the expression aller de pair avec ('to go hand in hand with'). The phrase au pair refers to a live-in foreign helper. As a historical term, les pairs de France were the highest-ranking nobles. Do not confuse with père (father) or paire (a pair of objects).

Examples

"Ces deux tendances vont de pair."

Natural Translation

These two tendencies go hand in hand.

Literal Translation

These two tendencies go in pairs.

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