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Origin and history of satisfaction

satisfaction(n.)

early 14c., satisfaccioun, "performance by a penitent of an act set forth by a priest or other Church authority to atone for sin," from Old French satisfaction (12c.), from Latin satisfactionem (nominative satisfactio) "a satisfying of a creditor," noun of action from past-participle stem of satisfacere "discharge fully, comply with, make amends," literally "to do enough" (see satisfy).

Originally religious and involving such acts as expiatory prayer, self-denial, charity. The sense of "contentment, appeasement" is from late 14c. but was not common before 16c. The sense of "action of gratifying" (an appetite or desire) also is from late 14c.; that of "gratified or contented feeling or state of mind" is from late 15c. (Caxton).

From 1580s as "information that answers a person's demands or removes doubt." Hence the specific sense "opportunity of satisfying one's honor by accepting a duel, etc., with the aggrieved person" (c. 1600).

also from early 14c.

Entries linking to satisfaction

satisfy(v.)

early 15c., satisfien, "do penance," also "appease, assuage;" also "fulfill (a desire), comply with (a command), satiate (a hunger or thirst)," from Old French satisfiier "pay, repay, make reparation" (14c., Modern French satisfaire), from Latin satisfacere "discharge fully, comply with, make amends," literally "do enough."

This is from satis "enough" (from PIE root *sa- "to satisfy") + facere "to make, do, perform" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

From mid-15c. as "make amends, pay damages." The meaning "cause to have enough, supply the needs of" is by c. 1500. Of feelings, "meet or fulfill the wish, desire, or expectation of," late 15c. (Caxton). From 1510s as "assure or free from doubt or uncertainty, furnish with sufficient proof." The intransitive sense of "give satisfaction or contentment" is from c. 1600.

dissatisfaction(n.)

"lack of pleasure or contentment, uneasiness proceeding from disappointment or want of gratification," 1630s; see dis- + satisfaction.

self-satisfaction(n.)

"satisfaction with one's own excellence," 1640s; see self- + satisfaction. Related: Self-satisfied (1734); self-satisfying (1670s).

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    expiation
    "act of making satisfaction or reparation for an offense, atonement, reparation," early 15c., expiacioun, from Latin expiationem (nominative expiatio) "satisfaction, atonement," noun of action from past-participle stem of expiare "make amends for, atone for; purge by sacrifice, m
    complacence
    mid-15c., "pleasure, gratification," especially "self-satisfaction, delight in one's condition" (c. 1500), from Medieval...Latin complacentia "satisfaction, pleasure," from Latin complacentem (nominative complacens), present participle of complacere...
    delight
    c. 1200, delit, "high degree of pleasure or satisfaction," also "that which gives great pleasure," from Old French delit...
    replete
    late 14c., "filled (with something); completely full, filled to satisfaction," from Old French replet "filled up" (14c.)...
    recompense
    early 15c., "compensation, payment for a debt or obligation; satisfaction, amends; retribution, punishment," from Medieval...
    rocks
    cubes" is from 1946; slang meaning "testicles" is attested by 1948 in the phrase get (one's) rocks off "achieve intense satisfaction...
    voluptuous
    volumptueuse and directly from Latin voluptuosus "full of pleasure, delightful," from voluptas "pleasure, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction...
    change
    c. 1200, "to alter, make different, change" (transitive); early 13c. as "to substitute one for another;" mid-13c. as "to make (something) other than what it was, cause to turn or pass from one state to another;" from late 13c. as "to become different, be altered" (intransitive),
    contentment
    mid-15c., contentement, "satisfactory payment" (of a debt; a sense now obsolete), from Old French contentment, from contenter (see content (v.)). Meaning "That happiness which consists in being satisfied with present conditions" is from 1590s. Contentment is passive; satisfactio
    pride
    Middle English prede, from late Old English pryto, Kentish prede, Mercian pride "unreasonable self-esteem, especially as one of the deadly sins; haughtiness, overbearing treatment of others; pomp, love of display," from prud (see proud (adj.)). There is debate whether Scandinavia

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