pay

pay

pay¹ [pā]

vt.

paid or [Obs.] (except in phrase PAY OUT, sense 2)Obs. payed, paying [ME paien, to pay, satisfy < OFr paier < L pacare, to pacify < pax,PEACE]

1. to give to (a person) what is due, as for goods received, services rendered, etc.; remunerate; recompense

2. to give (what is due or owed) in return, as for goods or services

3. to make a deposit or transfer of (money) [paid $50 into the credit union]

4. to discharge or settle (a debt, obligation, expenses, etc.) by giving something in return

5.

a) to give or offer (a compliment, respects, attention, etc.)

b) to make (a visit, call, etc.)

6. to yield as a recompense or return [a job that pays $90]

7. to be worthwhile or profitable to [it will pay him to listen]

vi.

1. to give due compensation; make payment

2. to be profitable or worthwhile

3. to yield return or compensation as specified [a stock that pays poorly]

n.

1. a paying or being paid; payment

2. money paid, esp. for work or services; wages or salary

3. anything, good or bad, given or done in return

4. Now Rare a person regarded as a credit risk

adj.

1. rich enough in minerals, ore, etc. to make mining profitable [pay gravel]

2. operated or made available by depositing coins, submitting credit cards, etc. [a pay telephone, pay toilet]

3. designating a service, facility, etc. paid for by subscription, fees, etc. [pay TV]

SYN.- WAGE

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in the pay of

employed and paid by

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☆ pay as you go

to pay expenses as they arise

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pay back

1. to repay

2. to retaliate upon

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pay down

1. to pay in cash

2. to pay (part of the purchase price) at the time of purchase: used in installment buying

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pay for

1. to suffer or undergo punishment because of

2. to atone or make amends for

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pay off

1. to pay all that is owed on (a debt, etc.) or to (a person, as in discharging from employment)

2. to take revenge on (a wrongdoer) or for (a wrong done)

3. to yield full recompense or return, for either good or evil

4. Informal to bring about a desired result; succeed

5. Naut. to swing or allow to swing away from the wind: said of the bow of a vessel

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pay someone's way

to pay someone's share of the expenses

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pay out

1. to give out (money, etc.); expend

2. to let out (a rope, cable, etc.) gradually

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pay up

to pay in full or on time

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with pay

with wages or salary included [a two-week vacation with pay]

SYN.- PAY¹ is the simple, direct word meaning to give money, etc. due for services rendered, goods received, etc.; COMPENSATE implies a return, whether monetary or not, thought of as equivalent to the service given, the effort expended, or the loss sustained [one could never be compensated for the loss of a child ]; REMUNERATE stresses the idea of payment for a service rendered, but it often also carries an implication of reward [a bumper crop remunerated the farmer for past labors ]; to REIMBURSE is to pay back what has been expended [the salesman was reimbursed for his traveling expenses ]; to INDEMNIFY is to pay for what has been lost or damaged [they were indemnified for the war destruction ]; REPAY implies a paying back of money given to one or it may refer to a doing or giving of anything in requital [how can I repay you for your kindness? ]; RECOMPENSE stresses the idea of compensation or requital

pay² [pā]

vt.

payed, paying [OFr peier < L picare, to cover with pitch < pix, PITCH¹]

to coat as with pitch in order to make waterproof [to pay the seams of a wooden ship]