Impairments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Limitations that affect typical functioning in physical or mental capacities
2. Disorders that disrupt usual performance and reduce quality of life
3. Conditions that lessen a person’s usual physical or cognitive abilities, hindering daily activities

Etymology: "Impairments" is the plural of "impairment," a noun formed by adding the suffix "-ment" to "impair." That verb came into English from Old French "empeirier" (also spelled "empairer"), which in turn grew out of the Latin "pejor," meaning "worse," so the core idea is making something worse or less good. The noun passed through Anglo-Norman forms such as "empairement" and "emperement" before settling into Middle English as "empeirement" and its variants. The suffix does most of the work here. "-ment" turns a verb into a noun for the act or result of doing the verb, so an impairment is literally the state of having been made worse. Over time the sense narrowed from general deterioration toward a specific loss of capacity, which is why the word is now used of damaged faculties, such as impaired hearing or vision.

Synonyms: deficiencies, deteriorations, disabilities, handicaps, limitations

Antonyms: enhancements, improvements, strengths, capabilities, advancements