satisfy

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈsæt.ɪs.faɪ/, US /ˈsæt̬.əs.faɪ/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French satisfier, a variant of satisfaire, influenced by verbs in -fier,^[2][3][4] from Latin satisfacere, to discharge fully, make amends, literally to do enough,^[2][5] from satis, enough (see sad), and facere, to do (see -fy).^[2][5][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To make amends, recompense: about 1412, in Hoccleve;^[2] to do penance, also to appease or assuage, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^[5]

Semantic evolution

To fulfil or assuage is from 1419,^[2] and to pay off a debt fully from about 1430.^[6] To make amends or pay damages is from the mid-15th century.^[5] To meet the wishes or expectations of someone is from the late 15th century, in Caxton,^[5] to cause to have enough from about 1500,^[5] and to free from doubt, convince, from the 1510s.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1412 – to make amends.^[2]
• 1419 – to fulfil.^[2]
• c. 1430 – to pay off a debt.^[6]
• late 15th century – to please.^[5]
• 1510s – to convince.^[5]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To meet the needs, wishes or expectations of; to please.
2. To fulfil a need or desire.
3. To convince or free from doubt.
4. To meet a requirement or condition; to pay off a debt.

Word family

• satisfier
• satisfyingly
• satisfiable
• satisfyingness
• outsatisfy
• presatisfy

Related words

• satisfaction
• satisfactory
• satiate
• satiety
• sated
• saturate
• sad

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press