Pay
/peɪ/noun
To give money or something of value in exchange for goods, services, or an obligation.
Did you know?Pay descends from Latin pacare, “to pacify” or “subdue,” revealing that an old debt was linguistically treated as a disturbance requiring appeasement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pak-
“To make fast, secure, or agree”
Classical Latin
Latin
pax
“Peace or agreement”
Classical Latin
Latin
pacare
“To pacify, subdue, or bring to peace”
11th Century
Old French
paier
“To pay, settle a debt, or satisfy an obligation”
12th–13th Century
Middle English
paien
“To give what is due; settle a debt”
Modern English
English
pay
“To give money or value in exchange or settlement”