satisfy
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsætɪsfaɪ/
Forms: form: satisfies
form: satisfying
form: satisfied
form: satisfied
Etymology: From Middle English satisfyen, satisfien, from Old French satisfiier, satisfier (also Old French satisfaire), from Latin satisfacere, from satis (“enough, sufficient”) + faciō (“I make, I do”).
Senses: examples: text: That brief explanation will never satisfy.
text: Death shall […] with us two / Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
text: Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I'm crazy then it's true
That it's all because of you
And you wouldn't want me any other way
ref: 1980 March 7, Billy Joel, “You May Be Right”, in Glass Houses:
glosses: To be enough (for)
examples: text: The final rehearsal of the day seemed to satisfy the director.
glosses: To be enough (for)
To meet the needs of, to fulfill the wishes or requirements of (someone).
examples: text: Even three giant helpings of turkey and ham didn't satisfy her appetite.
glosses: To be enough (for)
To provide what is wanted or required for (something).
synonyms: supply
examples: text: to satisfy a creditor
topics: business
finance
glosses: To pay to the extent of what is claimed or due.
examples: text: to satisfy a claim or an execution
topics: law
glosses: To answer or discharge (a claim, debt, legal demand, etc.); to give compensation for.
examples: text: The complex numbers satisfy #92;existsx#58;x²#43;1#61;0.
topics: human-sciences
logic
mathematics
philosophy
sciences
glosses: To cause (a sentence) to be true when the sentence is interpreted in one's universe.
examples: text: I was resolved to satisfy myself whether this ragged Elijah was really dogging us or not, and with that intent crossed the way with Queequeg, and on that side of it retraced our steps.
ref: 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 19, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
text: The Siamese officer and the Consul having satisfied themselves of the honest intentions of the applicant, will assist him...
ref: 1856, “Treaty signed April 18, 1855; ratified April 5, 1856”, in Treaty of friendship and commerce between Great Britain and Siam, Bangkok: J. H. Chandler, page 9:
glosses: To convince by ascertaining; to free from doubt.
Synonyms: word: abound
word: amuse
word: appease
word: assuage
word: captivate
word: cater
word: cloy
word: compensate
word: conciliate
word: delight
word: elate
word: entertain
word: exuberate
word: fascinate
word: fill
word: flatter
word: fulfill
word: gratify
word: humor
word: humour
word: indulge
word: measure up
word: mollify
word: pacify
word: placate
word: please
word: propitiate
word: provide
word: quench
word: rejoice
word: sate
word: satiate
word: score
word: serve
word: slake
word: suffice
word: suit
word: supply
word: teem
Hyponyms: word: glut
word: gorge
word: oversatisfy
word: surfeit
Related terms: satiate
satiation
satiety
satisfaction
satisfactory
satisfice