peer2

 
Pronunciation: /pɪə/

noun

  • 1a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron: hereditary peers could still dominate the proceedings of the House of Lords
  • 2a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person: he has incurred much criticism from his academic peers

verb

archaic
  • make or become equal with: [no object]: the Thames could not peer with the mill-streamlet close to my home [with object]: of Homer it is said that none could ever peer him for poetry

Phrases

without peer

unrivalled: he is a goalkeeper without peer

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French peer, from Latin par 'equal'