peer¹ / pi(ə)r/ • v. [intr.] look keenly or with difficulty at someone or something: Blake screwed up his eyes, trying to peer through the fog. ∎  be just visible: the two towers peer over the roofs. ∎  [intr.] archaic come into view; appear.peer² • n. 1. a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.2. a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person: he has incurred much criticism from his academic peers.• v. archaic make or become equal with or of the same rank.PHRASES: without peer unequaled; unrivaled: he is a goalkeeper without peer.DERIVATIVES: peer·less adj. (in sense 2).

peer2 look narrowly; peep out, show itself XVI. of uncert. orig.; cf. pire (XIV), corr. to LG. pīren; perh. partly aphetic of APPEAR.

peer1 (one's) equal XIII; member of the nobility XIV. — AN., OF. pe(e)r (mod. pair) :— L. pār, par- equal.
Hence peerage XV, peeress XVII.