peer
UK[pɪə(r)]US[pɪr]
n
A person who is the same age or has the same social status or abilities as other people in a group
n
A member of the British nobility (duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron)
v
To look closely or with difficulty at something
Etymology
The word 'peer' originates from the Latin 'par', which simply meant "equal". It entered English via Anglo-Norman French as 'per' or 'peer', initially carrying the core sense of an equal in status or rank. This foundational meaning of equality branched into two distinct modern applications. In a social context, it evolved to denote a person of equivalent age, standing, or ability within a group. In a legal and aristocratic context, it became the specific term for a member of the nobility, originally implying that they were the king's equals in the feudal structure. The verb sense, "to look closely," developed later in the 16th century, likely from the idea of appearing or coming into view as an equal might, or perhaps from a shortening of the verb 'appear'.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It derives from the Anglo-Norman French 'per', 'peer', and the Old French 'per', 'pair', meaning "equal". This, in turn, came from the Latin 'par', meaning "equal".
Examples
Children are often highly influenced by their peers.
He was made a life peer in 1997.
She peered through the mist, trying to see the path ahead.