# payed

/pˈeɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/payed
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to pay for something. This is an old way of spelling the word that people used in the past, especially in nautical stories.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'pay'. This spelling is archaic and primarily found in historical nautical contexts or in the works of older authors.

## Examples

- He payed for the meal with a gold coin.
- The captain payed the crew their wages in silver before the ship set sail for the next port.
- In the old maritime logs, it is common to find sailors who payed for their passage with goods or services rather than with hard currency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.