pay

pay · verb, noun, adjective¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*peh₂ḱ-
2. Proto-Indo-European*péh₂ḱs
3. Proto-Italic*pāks
4. Latinpāx
5. Latinpācō
6. Old Frenchpaiier
7. Middle Englishpayen
8. English todaypay

From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.

pay · verb²

1. Latin · derived frompicāre“to cover with pitch”
2. Old French · derived frompeier
3. English todaypay

From Old French peier, from Latin picāre (“to cover with pitch”).

Words from the same roots