pay

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Paid p. pr. & vb. n. Paying. ] [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

May no penny ale them pay [ i. e., satisfy ]. P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ She ] pays me with disdain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Matt. xviii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

If they pay this tax, they starve. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised. [ 1913 Webster ]

This day have I paid my vows. Prov. vii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not paying me a welcome. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 (Naut.), 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. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. Ps. xxxvii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ] 'T was I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ] --
To pay off. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (a) (Naut.) 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. [ Colloq. ] --
To pay round [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Naut.) To turn the ship's head. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Satisfaction; content. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where only merit constant pay receives. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is neither pay nor plunder to be got. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. payable. Cf. Pacable. ] 1. That may, can, or should be paid; suitable to be paid; justly due. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thanks are a tribute payable by the poorest. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) That may be discharged or settled by delivery of value. (b) Matured; now due. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. money that a person or organization expects and is obligated to pay on notes and accounts. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as retribution. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

2. same as requital. [ informal ] [ PJC ]

. A staff corps in the United States navy, consisting of pay directors, pay inspectors, paymasters, passed assistant paymasters, and assistant paymasters, having relative rank from captain to ensign, respectively. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

prop. n. the British system of withholding tax. [ Acronym ]
Syn. -- pay as you earn. [ WordNet 1.5 ]