satisfaction English · revision 7145

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=la satisfacio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sætɪsˈfækʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English satisfaccioun, [[bor|fro|satisfaction]] and directly [[bor|la|satisfactio|t=a satisfying of a creditor; reparation, amends]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from satisfacere, to satisfy, literally to do enough (see [[satisfy]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the Church, the performance by a penitent of acts set by a priest to atone for sin: before 1300 in the OED, before 1325 in Barnhart, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Originally religious, it involved expiatory prayer, self-denial and charity.^(Etymonline) Christ's atonement for sin is from about 1380,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and the payment in full of a debt from about 1400.^(OED 1989) Contentment or appeasement is from the late 14th century, found in the Wycliffe Bible, but was not common before the 16th century;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a gratified state of mind is from the late 15th century, in Caxton.^(Etymonline) Information that removes doubt is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and the chance to satisfy one's honour in a duel from 1602.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – penance.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – Christ's atonement.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1382 – contentment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – payment of a debt.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1602 – satisfaction by a duel.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Fulfilment of one's wishes or needs, or the pleasure this gives; [[contentment]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Compensation for a wrong or injury.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The payment of a debt or fulfilment of an obligation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Convincing evidence or certainty: ''proved to the court's satisfaction''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[satisfactional]]

+ * [[satisfactionless]]

+ * [[dissatisfaction]]

+ * [[nonsatisfaction]]

+ * [[undersatisfaction]]

+ * [[self-satisfaction]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[satisfy]]

+ * [[satisfactory]]

+ * [[sated]]

+ * [[satiate]]

+ * [[saturate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}