Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) 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.
2. (v. t.) 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.
3. (v. t.) Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon.
4. (v. t.) 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).
5. (v. t.) To discharge or fulfill, as a duty; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised.
6. (v. t.) To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit.
7. (v. i.) To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt.
8. (v. i.) 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.
9. (n.) Satisfaction; content.
10. (n.) 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.
Thesaurus
accomplishachieveadvantageaffordangelanswerattend toavailbackbankrollbase paybe exposed tobe gainfulbe hadbe handybe of usebe profitablebe subjected tobe worthwhilebenefitbesteadbring aboutbring inbring offbring to passbudgetcapitalizecastigationchasteningchastisementcome down oncommitcompensatecompensationcondign punishmentcorrectioncostcost outcough updesertsdisbursedisciplinary measuresdisciplinedismissal wagedodo fordo the trickdo toearningseffecteffectuateemolumentencounterendureescalator clauseescalator planexpendexperiencefeefeelferulefill the billfinancefinancial remunerationfixfork outfundget satisfactiongive good returnsgive it togo and dogo throughgrossgross incomegrubstakeguaranteed annual wageguerdonhavehireincomeincur costsindemnifyinflictinflictioninvestjudgmentjudicial punishmentknowlabor underlay outliving wagemakemake amendsmake requitalmake restitutionmake retributionmeetmeet up withmeet withminimum wagenemesisnetnet incomeopen the purseoutlayoverpayoverspendpainspains and punishmentspass throughpatronizepay and allowancespay backpay by installmentspay dearlypay exorbitantlypay forpay offpay onpay outpay too muchpaymentpayrollpenal retributionpenaltypenologyperpetrateplunkportal-to-portal payprepayproduceprofitprovide forpull offpunishmentpunitionpurchasing powerput outquitreal wagesrealizerecompenseredressrefinanceremitremunerateremunerationrenderrepayrequiteretributionretributive justicereturnrewardrun throughrun up againstsalarysatisfyschedulescourgeserveserve one outserve the purposeset upsettlesettle the scoreseverance payshell outsink money insliding scalespendsplurgesponsorsquanderstakestand understipendsubsidizesuffersufficesupportsustaintake and dotake care oftake-hometake-home paytastetaxable incometenderthrow money aroundtotal compensationundergoup and dowagewage controlwage freezewage reductionwage rollbackwage scalewageswages after deductionswages after taxeswell-deserved punishmentwhat-forwreakyieldyield a profit
