Pronunciation: [pˈe͡əwa͡ɪz] (IPA) 
The word "pairwise" is spelt using the phonetic spelling /ˈperwaɪz/. The first syllable "pair" is pronounced as in the word "pear", with a long "a" sound. The second syllable "wise" is pronounced as in the word "wise", with a long "i" sound. "Pairwise" means considering each individual item in a group, comparing it with every other item to find similarities or differences. This word is often used in mathematics and computer science.
Pairwise is an adjective that is used to describe actions or comparisons that occur between each possible combination of items in a set or group. It refers to something that is done or considered in relation to each pair of elements in a collection, usually without considering the other items in the set. The term "pairwise" is mainly used in mathematics, computer science, and statistics.
In mathematics and computer science, pairwise operations or comparisons involve examining or performing a specific action on every possible pair within a given set. For example, in analyzing data, a researcher might perform a pairwise comparison between each observation to calculate the correlation coefficient. This means that the comparison is made between each pair of observations, one pair at a time, rather than comparing all observations simultaneously.
In statistics, pairwise may also refer to pairwise measures, which describe the relationship or similarity between each pair of items in a dataset. This can be particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or complex structures.
Overall, "pairwise" describes a process, comparison, or operation that specifically targets and considers every possible combination of pairs within a set or group. It emphasizes the examination or evaluation of elements or entities with respect to one another, rather than considering them collectively.
The word "pairwise" comes from the combination of two words: "pair" and "wise".
The word "pair" originated from the Old French "paire" which means "pair, couple, or pair of equals". It can be traced back to the Latin word "paria" which means "equal".
The word "wise" comes from the Old English word "wīs", which means "way, manner, or fashion". It can be linked to the Proto-Germanic word "wisaną" which means "to show the way, teach, or guide".
When "pair" and "wise" are combined, the resulting term "pairwise" refers to something that is done or considered in relation to each pair of a group of items or individuals.
