Etymologically
Log in

satisfacio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word satisfacio

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (satis,faciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sa.tɪfˈfa.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sa.tisˈfaː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

satisfaciō (present infinitive satisfacere, perfect active satisfēcī, supine satisfactum); third (-iō variant) conjugation, suppletive[1] Also written as two words, satis faciō.[2] The passive is normally impersonal, satisfit, satisfierī, and Varro has satisfacitur.[2]

Etymology

It is a compound of satis “enough” and faciō “to do, make”.[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨satis⟩ to Proto-Italic *sati- (“satiation, satisfaction”), from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂-ti- (“satiation”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of satisfying a creditor.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

Usually with a dative, it meant to give satisfaction to a creditor, usually by a pledge or bond, as in Plautus; to make amends to an injured party, apologise; to do all that is required for a person or task, satisfy, as in Cicero and Caesar; to be adequate, suffice, as in Columella; and with indirect speech to give a satisfactory assurance, prove, as in Afranius.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to give satisfaction, satisfy.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of creditors.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.[2][4]
  • 1st century AD – Columella uses it of sufficing.[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To give satisfaction to a creditor.[2]
  2. To make amends, apologise.[2]
  3. To do all that is required, satisfy.[2]
  4. To be adequate, suffice.[2]
  5. To give a satisfactory assurance.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Satisfacio.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/satisfacio. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·