I. ˈpā verb
( paid ˈpād ; also in sense 7 payed ; pay·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French paier, from Latin pacare to pacify, from pac-, pax peace
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered
b. : to engage for money : hire
you couldn't pay me to do that
2.
a. : to give in return for goods or service
pay wages
b. : to discharge indebtedness for : settle
pay a bill
c. : to make a disposal or transfer of (money)
3. : to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution
pay the penalty
4.
a. : to make compensation for
b. : to requite according to what is deserved
pay them back
5. : to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting
pay attention
pay your respects
6.
a. : to return value or profit to
it pay s you to stay open
b. : to bring in as a return
an investment pay ing five percent
7. : to slacken (as a rope) and allow to run out — used with out
intransitive verb
1. : to discharge a debt or obligation
2. : to be worth the expense or effort
crime doesn't pay
3. : to suffer the consequences of an act
•
- pay one's dues
- pay one's way
- pay the piper
- pay through the nose
Synonyms:
pay , compensate , remunerate , satisfy , reimburse , indemnify , repay , recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something. pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred
paid their bills on time
compensate implies a making up for services rendered or help given
an attorney well compensated for her services
remunerate more clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for
promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely
satisfy implies paying a person what is demanded or required by law
all creditors will be satisfied in full
reimburse implies a return of money that has been expended for another's benefit
reimbursed employees for expenses
indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare
indemnified the families of the dead miners
repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount
repay a favor with a favor
recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward
hotel guests were recompensed for their inconvenience
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage : remuneration
2.
a. : the act or fact of paying or being paid
b. : the status of being paid by an employer : employ
3. : a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills
4.
a. : ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and especially gold in profitable amounts
b. : an oil-yielding stratum or zone
Synonyms: see wage
III. adjective
Date: 1856
1. : containing or leading to something precious or valuable
2. : equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use
a pay telephone
3. : requiring payment
IV. transitive verb
( payed also paid ; pay·ing )
Etymology: obsolete French peier, from Latin picare, from pic-, pix pitch — more at pitch
Date: 1627
: to coat with a waterproof composition