verb Pay v. t. (past & past part. paid; pres. part. paying) (Naut.) To cover, as bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc., with tar or pitch, or waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.
Pay v. t. (past & past part. paid; pres. part. paying) 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. "May no penny ale them pay (i. e., satisfy)." "(She) pays me with disdain." 2.Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon. "For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you." 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." "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." "If they pay this tax, they starve." 4.To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised. "This day have I paid my vows." 5.To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit. "Not paying me a welcome." 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. 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.)
Pay v. i. (past & past part. paid; pres. part. paying) 1.To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt. "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again." 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. 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. "'T was I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings." To pay off. (a)(Naut.) To fall to leeward, as the head of a vessel under sail. To pay on. To beat with vigor; to redouble blows. (Colloq.) To pay round (Naut.) To turn the ship's head.
noun paying n. 1.The act of paying money. Synonyms: payment, defrayal, defrayment.
adjective paying adj. 1.Yielding material gain or profit; as, paying investments. Antonym: unprofitable. Synonyms: profitable. 2.Providing a salary for work performed; as, a paying job (prenominal). Antonym: unpaid. Synonyms: compensable, remunerative, salaried, stipendiary, gainful.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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