pare
UK[peə]US[per]
v
To cut off the outer layer or edges of something, especially fruit or vegetables.
v
To reduce or diminish something gradually.
Etymology
The verb 'pare' entered English in the 13th century from the Anglo-French word 'parer', meaning "to prepare, trim, or adorn." This, in turn, derived from the Latin verb 'parare', which had the core meaning of "to prepare, make ready, or furnish." The semantic journey from "to prepare" to "to trim by cutting" is logical, as preparation often involves removing excess or unwanted parts. The Latin root 'parare' is also the source of related English words like 'prepare' and 'apparatus', though 'pare' has retained the most direct connection to the act of cutting away.
Analysis
The word 'pare' is a simplex verb of Latin origin via Anglo-French. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
She learned to pare apples quickly and efficiently.
The company had to pare its budget to survive the economic downturn.
Use a sharp knife to pare the skin from the potato.