um|pire

um|pire «UHM pyr», noun, verb, -pired, -pir|ing.

–n.

1. a person who rules on the plays in a game and who sees that the rules are not broken: »

The umpire called the ball a foul.

SYNONYM(S): referee.

2. a person chosen to settle a dispute; arbiter, especially one whose decisions are binding on both or all parties to the dispute. SYNONYM(S): judge, arbitrator, mediator.

–v.t.

to act as an umpire in (a game or dispute).

–v.i.

to act as an umpire.

╂[Middle English owmpere, by misdivision < a noumpere a third man < Old French nomper, odd, not even < non not (< Latin) + per equal < Latin pār]