par-

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par-

pref.

Variant of para-¹.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

par-

prefix

a variant of para-¹

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

par

(pɑr)

n., adj., v. parred, par•ring. n.

1. an equality in value or standing; a level of equality: gains on a par with losses.

2. an average or normal amount, degree, condition, etc.: to feel below par.

3. the number of golf strokes set as a standard for a specific hole or a complete course.

a. the value of the monetary unit of one country in terms of that of another, based on the same metal.

b. the face value, original price, or principal of a note, stock, or bond.

adj.

5. average or normal.

v.t.

6. Golf. to equal par on (a hole or course).

Idioms:

par for the course, exactly what one might expect; typical.

[1615–25; < Latin: equal]

par-

var. of para-¹ before a vowel: parenchyma.

par.

1. paragraph.

2. parallel.

3. parenthesis.

4. parish.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

But the Queen, who was just letting herself in at the backdoor with a latch-key, saw the par- rot getting out through the broken glass.

View in context

After the relatively tranquil par- four 10th, followed by the tricky short 11th, where he made his par, Paisley made a fine five at the 618-yard par-five 14th.