From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pay \Pay\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paid (p[=a]d); 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.
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May no penny ale them pay [i. e., satisfy]. --P.
Plowman.
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[She] pays me with disdain. --Dryden.
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2. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite
according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or
retaliate upon.
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For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you. --B.
Jonson.
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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.
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Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
--Matt. xviii.
26.
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If they pay this tax, they starve. --Tennyson.
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4. To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render
duty, as that which has been promised.
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This day have I paid my vows. --Prov. vii.
14.
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5. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to
pay attention; to pay a visit.
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Not paying me a welcome. --Shak.
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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.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
paying \paying\ n.
1. the act of paying money.
Syn: payment, defrayal, defrayment.
[WordNet 1.5]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
paying \paying\ adj.
yielding material gain or profit; as, paying investments.
[Ant: unprofitable]
Syn: profitable.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. providing a salary for work performed; as, a paying job.
[prenominal] [Ant: unpaid]
Syn: compensable, remunerative, salaried, stipendiary,
gainful.
[WordNet 1.5]