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.

accomplish achieve advantage afford angel answer attend to avail back bankroll base pay be exposed to be gainful be had be handy be of use be profitable be subjected to be worthwhile benefit bestead bring about bring in bring off bring to pass budget capitalize castigation chastening chastisement come down on commit compensate compensation condign punishment correction cost cost out cough up deserts disburse disciplinary measures discipline dismissal wage do do for do the trick do to earnings effect effectuate emolument encounter endure escalator clause escalator plan expend experience fee feel ferule fill the bill finance financial remuneration fix fork out fund get satisfaction give good returns give it to go and do go through gross gross income grubstake guaranteed annual wage guerdon have hire income incur costs indemnify inflict infliction invest judgment judicial punishment know labor under lay out living wage make make amends make requital make restitution make retribution meet meet up with meet with minimum wage nemesis net net income open the purse outlay overpay overspend pains pains and punishments pass through patronize pay and allowances pay back pay by installments pay dearly pay exorbitantly pay for pay off pay on pay out pay too much payment payroll penal retribution penalty penology perpetrate plunk portal-to-portal pay prepay produce profit provide for pull off punishment punition purchasing power put out quit real wages realize recompense redress refinance remit remunerate remuneration render repay requite retribution retributive justice return reward run through run up against salary satisfy schedule scourge serve serve one out serve the purpose set up settle settle the score severance pay shell out sink money in sliding scale spend splurge sponsor squander stake stand under stipend subsidize suffer suffice support sustain take and do take care of take-home take-home pay taste taxable income tender throw money around total compensation undergo up and do wage wage control wage freeze wage reduction wage rollback wage scale wages wages after deductions wages after taxes well-deserved punishment what-for wreak yield yield a profit