Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Par \Par\, n. [L. par, adj., equal. See {Peer} an equal.]
   1. Equal value; equality of nominal and actual value; the
      value expressed on the face or in the words of a
      certificate of value, as a bond or other commercial paper.

   2. Equality of condition or circumstances.

   {At par}, at the original price; neither at a discount nor at
      a premium.

   {Above par}, at a premium.

   {Below par}, at a discount.

   {On a par}, on a level; in the same condition, circumstances,
      position, rank, etc.; as, their pretensions are on a par;
      his ability is on a par with his ambition.

   {Par of exchange}. See under {Exchange}.

   {Par value}, nominal value; face value.

Exchange \Ex*change"\, n. [OE. eschange, eschaunge, OF.
   eschange, fr. eschangier, F. ['e]changer, to exchange; pref.
   ex- out + F. changer. See {Change}, and cf. {Excamb}.]
   1. The act of giving or taking one thing in return for
      another which is regarded as an equivalent; as, an
      exchange of cattle for grain.

   2. The act of substituting one thing in the place of another;
      as, an exchange of grief for joy, or of a scepter for a
      sword, and the like; also, the act of giving and receiving
      reciprocally; as, an exchange of civilities or views.

   3. The thing given or received in return; esp., a publication
      exchanged for another. --Shak.

   4. (Com.) The process of setting accounts or debts between
      parties residing at a distance from each other, without
      the intervention of money, by exchanging orders or drafts,
      called bills of exchange. These may be drawn in one
      country and payable in another, in which case they are
      called foreign bills; or they may be drawn and made
      payable in the same country, in which case they are called
      inland bills. The term bill of exchange is often
      abbreviated into exchange; as, to buy or sell exchange.

   Note: A in London is creditor to B in New York, and C in
         London owes D in New York a like sum. A in London draws
         a bill of exchange on B in New York; C in London
         purchases the bill, by which A receives his debt due
         from B in New York. C transmits the bill to D in New
         York, who receives the amount from B.

   5. (Law) A mutual grant of equal interests, the one in
      consideration of the other. Estates exchanged must be
      equal in quantity, as fee simple for fee simple.
      --Blackstone.

   6. The place where the merchants, brokers, and bankers of a
      city meet at certain hours, to transact business. In this
      sense often contracted to 'Change.

   {Arbitration of exchange}. See under {Arbitration}.

   {Bill of exchange}. See under {Bill}.

   {Exchange broker}. See under {Broker}.

   {Par of exchange}, the established value of the coin or
      standard of value of one country when expressed in the
      coin or standard of another, as the value of the pound
      sterling in the currency of France or the United States.
      The par of exchange rarely varies, and serves as a measure
      for the rise and fall of exchange that is affected by the
      demand and supply. Exchange is at par when, for example, a
      bill in New York, for the payment of one hundred pounds
      sterling in London, can be purchased for the sum. Exchange
      is in favor of a place when it can be purchased there at
      or above par.

   {Telephone exchange}, a central office in which the wires of
      any two telephones or telephone stations may be connected
      to permit conversation.

   Syn: Barter; dealing; trade; traffic; interchange.