pay

Where does the word "pay" come from? It comes from Latin pacare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Pay’s story begins in Latin: pacare meant “to pacify.” 'to pacify', from pax 'peace'; Augustus's Res Gestae boasts 'mare pacavi a praedonibus', I pacified the sea from pirates. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as paier. 'to appease', then to satisfy a creditor by handing over money. It reached English by 1200s as pay. Britain introduced 'Pay As You Earn' income tax deduction in 1944. Today, pay means to give money for goods, services or debts.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · classical pacare "to pacify", 'to pacify', from pax 'peace'; Augustus's Res Gestae boasts 'mare pacavi a praedonibus', I pacified the sea from pirates.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1100s paier "to satisfy, pay", 'to appease', then to satisfy a creditor by handing over money.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s pay "to give money owed", Britain introduced 'Pay As You Earn' income tax deduction in 1944.