pair
UK[peə(r)]US[per]
n
two things of the same type that are used or considered together
n
an object made of two similar parts that are joined together
v
to put two people or things together, or to form a pair with someone or something else
Etymology
The word 'pair' entered English in the late 13th century from Old French 'paire', meaning "a pair, a couple". The Old French term derived from Latin 'paria', the neuter plural of 'par', meaning "equal, a match". The Latin 'par' itself is of uncertain origin, though it may be related to a Proto-Indo-European root signifying "to prepare" or "to arrange". The core semantic journey is from the concept of "equality" or "matching" in Latin to the modern English sense of two corresponding or associated items forming a set.
Analysis
The word 'pair' is a simplex word borrowed from Old French. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes within its current English spelling.
Examples
She bought a new pair of shoes.
The teacher asked the students to work in pairs.
The cheese is often paired with a fruity red wine.