/ ɪmˈpeə(r); NAmE ɪmˈper/ verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to damage sth or make sth worse
➡ note at damage
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English enpeire , from Old French empeirier , based on late Latin pejorare (from Latin pejor worse). The current spelling is due to association with words derived from Latin beginning with im- .