fulfill

Forms

• fulfil (UK)

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English fulfillen, inherited from Old English fullfyllan (“to fill up, make full”),^[2][3][4] from full (“full”) and fyllan (“to fill”) (see full and fill).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To fill up, make full: about 1000, in Ælfric's Grammar, in Barnhart.^[2]

Semantic evolution

From the mid-13th century it was used of prophecies and promises, probably translating Latin impleō and adimpleō;^[3][2] to carry out or perform is also from the mid-13th century,^[3] and to complete or satisfy from about 1300.^[3] Self-fulfilling prophecy is attested by 1949, popularized by the sociologist Robert K. Merton.^[3] Etymonline notes that it and fulsome are among the few survivors of compounds beginning with full-.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1000 – fullfyllan, to fill up.^[2]
• probably before 1250 – to fulfil a prophecy.^[2]
• mid-13th century – to carry out.^[3]
• c. 1300 – to satisfy.^[3]
• 1949 – self-fulfilling prophecy.^[3]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To carry out or bring about a promise, hope or prediction.
2. To perform a task or meet a requirement; to satisfy.
3. To make someone feel satisfied with their life or work.
4. To bring to an end; to complete.

Word family

• fulfiller
• overfulfill
• unfulfilled

Related words

• fulfil
• fulfilment
• full
• fill
• fulsome

Usage notes

Fulfill is the American spelling, and British English writes fulfil.^[6][5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
6. ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Longman