pay

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: OF. peier, fr. L. picare to pitch, pix pitch: cf. OF. peiz pitch, F. poix. See Pitch a black substance.

Nautical To cover, as bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc., with tar or pitch, or waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.

Origin: OE. paien, F. payer, fr. L. pacare to pacify, appease, fr. pax, pacis, peace. See Peace.

1. To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered, property delivered, etc.; to discharge one's obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to remunerate; to recompense; to requite; as, to pay workmen or servants.

May no penny ale them pay [i. e., satisfy].— See Piers Plowman.

[She] pays me with disdain.— John Dryden

2. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon.

For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you.— Ben Jonson

3. To discharge, as a debt, demand, or obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to discharge a debt by delivering (money owed). “Pay me that thou owest.” Matt. xviii. 28.

Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.— Matt. xviii. 26.

If they pay this tax, they starve.— Alfred Tennyson

4. To discharge or fulfill, as a duty; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised.

This day have I paid my vows.— Prov. vii. 14.

5. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit.

Not paying me a welcome.— William Shakespeare

To pay off. (a) To make compensation to and discharge; as, to pay off the crew of a ship. (b) To allow (a thread, cord, etc.) to run off; to unwind. (c) to bribe. — To pay one's duty, to render homage, as to a sovereign or other superior. — To pay out Nautical, to pass out; hence, to slacken; to allow to run out; as, to pay out more cable. See under Cable. — To pay the piper, to bear the cost, expense, or trouble. colloquial

To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again.— Ps. xxxvii. 21.

2. Hence, to make or secure suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains required; as, it will pay to ride; it will pay to wait; politeness always pays.

To pay for. (a) To make amends for; to atone for; as, men often pay for their mistakes with loss of property or reputation, sometimes with life. (b) To give an equivalent for; to bear the expense of; to be mulcted on account of.

'T was I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings.— Francis, & Fletcher, John. Beaumont

— To pay off. (a) Nautical To fall to leeward, as the head of a vessel under sail. (b) to repay (a debt). — To pay on. [Etymol. uncertain.] To beat with vigor; to redouble blows. colloquial — To pay round [Etymol. uncertain.] Nautical To turn the ship's head.

1. Satisfaction; content. Geoffrey Chaucer

2. An equivalent or return for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for work or service; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the pay of a clerk; the pay of a soldier.

Where only merit constant pay receives.— Alexander Pope

There is neither pay nor plunder to be got.— Sir Roger L'Estrange

Full pay, the whole amount of wages or salary; maximum pay; especially, the highest pay or allowance to civil or military officers of a certain rank, without deductions. — Half pay. See under Half. — Pay day, the day of settlement of accounts. — Pay dirt Mining, earth which yields a profit to the miner. Western U.S. — Pay office, a place where payment is made. — Pay roll, (a) a roll or list of persons entitled to payment, with the amounts due; now usually one word, payroll. (b) the total sum of money which is paid to all employees on payday.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC