payday
UK[ˈpeɪdeɪ]US[ˈpeɪdeɪ]
n
the day on which someone receives their pay, especially wages
n
the date on which a regular payment, such as a pension or dividend, is due
Morpheme Breakdown
pay
day
pay
to give money
day
a 24-hour period
Etymology
the word 'payday' is a transparent english compound formed from the native germanic word 'day' and the romance-derived verb 'pay'. the concept of 'pay' originates from the latin 'pacare', meaning 'to pacify or appease', reflecting the idea that settling a debt brings peace between debtor and creditor. over time in english, 'pay' specialized to mean the discharge of a debt for services rendered. when combined with 'day', a word of ancient germanic origin referring to the daily cycle, it creates a specific term for the appointed time when wages are settled. this logical combination directly names the event, making its modern meaning immediately clear from its constituent parts.
Analysis
Structure: pay (to give money) + day (a 24-hour period)
pay: from old french 'paier', from latin 'pacare' meaning 'to appease, pacify', from 'pax' (peace). in this compound, it functions as a verb root meaning 'to give money for work or goods'.
day: from old english 'dæg', from proto-germanic 'dagaz'. in this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a specific point or period in time.
Examples
i always treat myself to a nice meal on payday.
the company moved the payday from friday to thursday.
with payday still a week away, i have to budget carefully.