Etymology From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.
Ambitransitive To give money or other compensation to in exchange for goods or services.
pay cash or pay in cash, pay by credit/debit card
pay in dollars/euros, etc.
4 more examples
How much will the job pay?
She is paying him to clean the place up.
He doesn't have money, but he pays rent in chores and housework.
He was paid off the books and in kind where possible.
2
To deposit into an account.
I pay a portion of each paycheck into a savings account.
3
Ambitransitive To discharge, as a debt or other obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required.
to pay compensation, to pay a fine
She offered to pay the bill.
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He is paying his debt to society.
He was allowed to go as soon as the kidnappers were paid.
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 37:21:
The petty ſtreames that paie a dailie det / To their ſalt ſoveraigne with their freſh fals haſt, / Adde to his flowe, but alter not his taſt.1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:
4
To be profitable; to be worth it.
It didn't pay him to keep the store open any more.
Crime doesn’t pay.
1 more example
It will pay to wait.
5
To cover, as a cost.
Those investments paid for her college education.
6
To yield as a benefit.
to pay dividends; to pay interest
You will get paid from this investment yearly.
7
To give (something else than money).
to pay attention, to pay tribute, to pay a visit
not paying me a welcomec. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
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They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups.1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC, page 9:
8
To suffer consequences, especially justly.
He paid for his fun in the sun with a terrible sunburn.
9
To admit that a joke, punchline, etc., was funny.
Sutho took a pull at his Johnny Walker and Coke and laughed that trademark laugh of his and said: `Okay. I'll pay that all right.'1996, Jon Byrell, Lairs, Urgers and Coat-Tuggers, Sydney: Ironbark, page 294:
Etymology From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.
1
Money given in return for work; salary or wages.
Many employers have rules designed to keep employees from comparing their pays.
The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"You can if you like. I'll drop in each day to see how she gets on." "Oh, will you? That's a relief. All the same, I wouldn't say she was a very good pay, if you spend too much time on her." "Oh, bad pays make up half a doctor's job."1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 36:
Etymology From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.
Etymology From Old French peier, from Latin picāre (“to cover with pitch”).
1
Nautical, Transport To cover (the bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc.) with tar or pitch, or a waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.