Pay | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Pāy, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PAID; p. pr. & vb. n. PAYING.] [O. Fr. paier, paer, N. Fr. payer, Pr. pagar, payar, Sp. & Pg. pagar, It. pagare, from Lat. pa-care, to pacify, appease, from pax, pacis, peace.]

Sense 1. To satisfy, as another person, for service rendered, property delivered, or the like; to discharge one's obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to reward; to requite.

Sense 2. Hence, to retort or revenge upon; to requite with what is deserved; in a bad sense, to punish.

I have paid Percy; I have made him sure. Shak.

For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you. B. Jonson.

Sense 3. To discharge, as a debt or obligation, by giving or doing that which is due; to make due return for; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to fulfill or perform, as what is promised; to render duly.

The money is paid back again. Shak.

You have paid down More penitence than done trespass. Shak.

Sense 4. (Naut.) To cover, as the bottom of a vessel, a seam, a mast, yard, and the like, with tar or pitch, or a composition of tallow, resin, &c.; to bream; to smear.

To pay off. (a.) To make compensation to and discharge; as, to pay off the crew of a ship. (b.) To retort or revenge upon; to requite; to punish. — To pay on, to lay on with repeated applications, as blows. — To pay out (Naut.), to slacken, extend, or cause to run out; as, to pay out more cable.

Pāy, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To recompense; to make payment or requital; hence, to make a suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains which it requires.

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.

’Twas I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings. Beau. & Fl.

— To pay off (Naut.), to fall to leeward, as the head of a ship. — To pay on, to beat with vigor; to redouble blows. [Colloq.]

Pāy, n.

noun

An equivalent given for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for services; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the merchant receives pay for goods sold; the soldier receives pay for his services. Here only merit constant pay receives. Pope.

Pā'y, n.

noun

n. The same as Poy.