prepayv.
/priːˈpeɪ/, U.S. /ˌpriˈpeɪ/ transitive. To pay or pay for in advance; (originally) spec. to pay postage on (a letter or parcel) before posting. Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay in advance
advance1529
prepay1839
1839 Treasury Minute 12 Nov. in Times 14 Nov. 5/5 All letters and packets exceeding the weight of one ounce to be prepaid, and delivered in at the window; if not so prepaid, and delivered, to be charged double postage.
1848 Times 17 Apr. 8/4 The taxes due on the 20th of May were to be prepaid on the 20th of this month.
1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma lxxviii Pre-paying a letter..used to be thought little short of an insult.
1931 F. Reid Uncle Stephen viii. 86 I've sent a telegram too. Indeed, Mr. Pringle very kindly pre-paid a reply.
1973 Philadelphia Inquirer 7 Oct. (Today Suppl.) 42/2 He'll be in to prepay.
1994 Bottom Line 15 July 8/2 Bunch as many expenses as possible into one year—for example, by scheduling elective surgery or prepaying medical bills.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.1839