| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|sfakt(ə)rē, -ri adjective
Etymology: Late Latin satisfactorius, from Latin satisfactus (past participle of satisfacere to satisfy) + -orius -ory
1. archaic : fulfilling the requirements of divine justice
the satisfactory … and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ Jesus — William Gouge
2. : sufficient to meet a condition or obligation
satisfactory scores on the medical college admission test — Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
3. : giving satisfaction: as
a. : capable of dispelling doubt or ignorance : convincing , informative
very satisfactory evidence that around the tenth century A.D. the stories … were almost identical — E.R.Leach
the most satisfactory and trustworthy … book on the subject — Zechariah Chafee
b. : adequate to meet a need or want
breast milk is the best food for an infant … provided the supply is satisfactory — Morris Fishbein
c. : producing pleasure or contentment : enjoyable , gratifying
a satisfactory pet is an animal … that is not an annoyance to owner or guests — Doris Bryant
found that … the sphere and the cone were satisfactory objects in themselves — Herbert Read
particularly satisfactory are the declines in infantile mortality — R.C.Geary
d. : having all the necessary qualities for effective use
a number of fountain pens had been patented previously, but to his mind none of them was satisfactory — C.W.Mitman