Pay


[pey] /peɪ/

verb (used with object), paid or ( Obsolete, except for def 12 ) payed, paying.
1.
to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something:
Please pay your bill.
2.
to give over (a certain amount of money) in exchange for something:
He paid twenty dollars for the shirt.
3.
to transfer money as compensation or recompense for work done or services rendered; to satisfy the claims of (a person, organization, etc.), as by giving money due:
He paid me for my work.
4.
to defray (cost or expense).
5.
to give compensation for.
6.
to yield a recompense or return to; be profitable to:
Your training will pay you well in the future.
7.
to yield as a return:
The stock paid six percent last year.
8.
to requite, as for good, harm, or an offense:
How can I pay her for her kindness and generosity?
9.
to give or render (attention, respects, compliments, etc.), as if due or fitting.
10.
to make (a call, visit, etc.).
11.
to suffer in retribution; undergo:
You’ll pay the penalty for your stubbornness!
12.
Nautical. to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.
verb (used without object), paid, paying.
13.
to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.
14.
to discharge a debt or obligation.
15.
to yield a return, profit, or advantage; be worthwhile:
It pays to be courteous.
16.
to give compensation, as for damage or loss sustained.
17.
to suffer or be punished for something:
The murderer paid with his life.
noun
18.
the act of paying or being paid; .
19.
wages, salary, or a stipend.
20.
a person with reference to solvency or reputation for meeting obligations:
The bank regards him as good pay.
21.
paid employment:
in the pay of the enemy.
22.
reward or punishment; requital.
23.
a rock stratum from which petroleum is obtained.
adjective
24.
requiring subscribed or monthly for use or service:
pay television.
25.
operable or accessible on deposit of a coin or coins:
a pay toilet.
26.
of or relating to .
Verb phrases, past and past participle paid or ( Obsolete, except for def 30c ) payed, present participle paying.
27.
pay down,

28.
pay for, to suffer or be punished for:
to pay for one’s sins.
29.
pay off,

30.
pay out,

31.
pay up,

Idioms
32.
pay as you go,

33.
pay back,

34.
pay one’s / its way,

[pey] /peɪ/
verb (used with object), payed, paying. Nautical.
1.
to coat or cover (seams, a ship’s bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.
/peɪ/
verb pays, paying, paid
1.
to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something: he paid his creditors
2.
when intr, often foll by for. to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or services: they pay their workers well, they pay by the hour
3.
to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit: it pays one to be honest
4.
(transitive) to give or bestow (a compliment, regards, attention, etc)
5.
(transitive) to make (a visit or call)
6.
(intransitive) often foll by for. to give compensation or make amends
7.
(transitive) to yield a return of: the shares pay 15 per cent
8.
to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back: he paid for the insult with a blow
9.
(tr; past tense and past participle paid or payed) (nautical) to allow (a vessel) to make leeway
10.
(Austral, informal) to acknowledge or accept (something) as true, just, etc
11.
pay one’s way

noun
12.

13.
paid employment (esp in the phrase in the pay of)
14.
(modifier) requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use: a pay phone, a pay toilet
15.
(modifier) rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked: pay gravel
/peɪ/
verb pays, paying, payed
1.
(transitive) (nautical) to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar
v.

c.1200, “to appease, pacify, satisfy,” from Old French paier “to pay, pay up” (12c., Modern French payer), from Latin pacare “to please, pacify, satisfy” (in Medieval Latin especially “satisfy a creditor”), literally “make peaceful,” from pax (genitive pacis) “peace” (see peace). Meaning “to give what is due for goods or services” arose in Medieval Latin and was attested in English by early 13c.; sense of “please, pacify” died out in English by 1500. Sense of “suffer, endure” (a punishment, etc.) is first recorded late 14c. Related: Paid; paying.
n.

c.1300, “satisfaction, liking, reward,” from pay (v.), or else from Old French paie “payment, recompense,” from paier. Meaning “money given for labor or services, wages” is from late 14c.

Related Terms

hell to pay

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    [pey-uh-buh l] /ˈpeɪ ə bəl/ adjective 1. to be ; due: a loan payable in 30 days. 2. capable of being or liable to be paid. 3. . 4. Law. imposing an immediate obligation on the debtor. noun 5. an amount, bill, etc., that is to be paid. 6. payables, the accounts payable of a […]

  • Payable

    [pey-uh-buh l] /ˈpeɪ ə bəl/ adjective 1. to be ; due: a loan payable in 30 days. 2. capable of being or liable to be paid. 3. . 4. Law. imposing an immediate obligation on the debtor. noun 5. an amount, bill, etc., that is to be paid. 6. payables, the accounts payable of a […]

  • Pay a call

    Also, pay a visit ; pay one’s respects . Make a short visit, especially as a formal courtesy or for business reasons. For example, Bill asked her to pay a call to his ex-mother-in-law , or Each salesman was told to pay a visit to every new doctor in town , or We went to […]

  • Pay a compliment

    Express praise or commendation to someone, as in Meredith wanted to pay Christopher a compliment so she told him she liked his new haircut. This expression uses pay in the sense of “give something that is due.” [ c. 1700 ]

  • Pay-and-display

    adjective 1. denoting a car-parking system in which a motorist buys a permit to park for a specified period from a coin-operated machine and displays the permit on or near the windscreen of his or her car so that it can be seen by a parking attendant


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