Matched (6)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">matched</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(similar in meaning)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for paired that I've seen before include "'Coupled, matched (6)'" , "Were mates" .)
(Other definitions for equal that I've seen before include "The same; even" , "What Orwell's animals were" , "On a par" , "Like revolting farm animals" , "The same in all aspects" .)