fulfill
Pronunciation
- IPA: /fʊlˈfɪl/, /fəˈfɪl/[1]
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
- To carry out or bring about a promise, hope or prediction.
- To perform a task or meet a requirement; to satisfy.
- To make someone feel satisfied with their life or work.
- To bring to an end; to complete.
Word family
- fulfiller
- overfulfill
- unfulfilled
Related words
Usage notes
Fulfill is the American spelling, and British English writes fulfil.[6][5]
References
- ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
- ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Longman