[agumonkey]

I appreciate the attempt, it might even have real bearing on how people approach things (thinking materialistically vs mentally or emotionally)

but pay https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay#etymonline_v_10195

has roots before and outside of currency

[ronilan]

Maybe I should post in /r/therewasanattempt/ instead :)

To the point:

1. Obviously the meaning of words change over time.

2. If this difference in metaphors has real bearing on how people act than the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, at least in its weak form, stands. That is something worth paying attention to....

[agumonkey]

not that I'm not attacking you, I was curious about the roots of pay

now maybe "pay attention" emerged recently, that is based on the material/financial connotation, or maybe the idiom came before