I. ˈpi(ə)r, -iə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English peer, peere, from Old French per, from per, adjective, equal, from Latin par — more at pair
1.
a. : one that is of the same or equal standing (as in law, rank, quality, age, ability) with another : equal
scholars of the first rank welcomed him as their peer — B.W.Bond
an electrode material without peer — B.W.Gamson
boys and girls in their teens … form groups of their peers — Martha M. Eliot
b. : a fellow citizen
a jury of his peers
2. archaic : companion , fellow
3.
a. : a member of one of the five ranks of the British peerage (as a duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron)
b. : a man of high rank or position in any country or organization that recognizes different orders : noble
high capital of Satan and his peers — John Milton
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English peeren, peren, from peer, peere, n.
archaic : to equal in rank : be the peer of : rival , match
III. adjective
Etymology: peer (I)
: belonging to the same group in society especially when membership is determined by age, grade, or status
a peer group of adolescents
school children oriented to peer culture values, rather than adult ones
IV.
obsolete
variant of pier
V. ˈpi(ə)r, -iə intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps by shortening & alteration from appear
1. : to look intently or curiously : stare
the natives … were peering from behind trees — Francis Birtles
peering impudently into your face — L.C.Douglas
especially : to look searchingly at something difficult to discern
peering into the distance
drove … and began to peer at the signs on street corners — Raymond Chandler
2. : to come slightly into view : emerge partly : peep out
when daffodils begin to peer — Shakespeare
a vast white cloud, through which the sun peered — Francis Kingdon-Ward
3. archaic : appear
darkly a project peers upon my mind — John Home
Synonyms: see gaze
VI. ˈpēr
Scotland
variant of poor