satisfaction

Forms

satisfaction f (uncountable)^[1] Anglo-Norman spellings include satisfacion, satisfaccioun and satisfactiun.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin satisfactiō (“discharge of a debt, excuse, amends, reparation”), first recorded about 1155.^[3][4][5] The Latin noun is from satisfaciō (“to satisfy, make amends”).^[6][7][4]

Cognate with Occitan satisfactio, Spanish satisfacción and Italian satisfazione.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Wace's Brut (about 1155) it means the act by which one obtains reparation for an offence.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

The word first belonged to the vocabulary of amends and redress, above all in phrases such as donner satisfaction and obtenir satisfaction.^[4] In Christian theology (from about 1250) it named the act that makes up to God for the offence of sin, the last part of the sacrament of penance.^[3][2] From about 1280 it was also used of paying what one owes.^[4]

The everyday sense of pleasure felt when what one wants is achieved is first recorded by Cotgrave in 1611.^[3][4] From it came the sense of the contentment someone gives by meeting expectations (donner satisfaction, 1671)^[3] and of the act of satisfying a need or desire (1836 in the GLLF and the DHLF, 1844 in the TLFi).^[6][4][3] The older sense of reparation survived in the language of the duel, where giving satisfaction meant accepting a fight with someone who claimed to be offended.^[7][3] In Belgian university French the word names a pass mark of 12 or 13 out of 20.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 1155 – Wace uses it for obtaining reparation for an offence.^[3]
• c. 1250 – A Cistercian rule uses faire satisfaction for making amends to God for sin.^[3]
• 1280 – Used of paying what is owed.^[4]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the sense “pleasure, contentment”.^[3][6]
• 1671 – Donner satisfaction “to give contentment” is recorded by Pomey.^[3]
• 1893 – Obtenir satisfaction appears in the Dictionnaire général.^[3][6]
• 1933 – Donner satisfaction is used for meeting demands or claims.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A feeling of contentment or pleasure that comes when what one wants or expects is achieved: Il a lu la lettre avec satisfaction.^[8][3]
2. The fulfilment of a need, desire or demand: donner satisfaction, obtenir satisfaction.^[8][3]
3. (dated, literary) reparation for an offence, formerly often by a duel.^[3][8][7]
4. (theology) The penance that makes amends to God for sin.^[8][7]

Related words

• satisfaire
• satiété
• assez
• Latin satisfactiō

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert