peer Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
compeer; equal; match.
noun a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage
verb look searchingly
- We peered into the back of the shop to see whether a salesman was around

OF. parir, pareir equiv. to F. paraître to appear, L. parere. Cf. Appear.

imperfect & past participle Peered ; present participle & verbal noun Peering

To come in sight; to appear. Poetic
So honor peereth in the meanest habit. Shak.

See how his gorget peers above his gown! B. Jonson.
Perh. a different word; cf. OE. piren, LG. piren. Cf. Pry to peep. To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day. Milton.
Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads. Shak.

As if through a dungeon grate he peered. Coleridge.

OE. per, OF. per, F. pair, fr. L. par equal. Cf. Apparel, Pair, Par, n., Umpire.

One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate.
In song he never had his peer. Dryden.

Shall they consort only with their peers? I. Taylor.
A comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate.
He all his peers in beauty did surpass. Spenser.
A nobleman; a member of one of the five degrees of the British nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron; as, a peer of the realm.
A noble peer of mickle trust and power. Milton.