ˈsad.ə̇ˌsfī, -atə̇- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English satisfien, from Middle French satisfier, modification (influenced by Middle French -fier -fy) of Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to do, make — more at sad , do
transitive verb
1.
a. : to carry out the terms of (as a contract) : discharge
the property would be insufficient to satisfy … the lien — G.A.Parks
helpless to … defend a suit because he has no money to satisfy court fees — J.M.Maguire
b. : to meet a financial obligation to (a creditor)
had to sell land … to satisfy his creditors — T.J.Wertenbaker
c. obsolete : to recompense for services : remunerate
not a compositor's duty; especially where he has no expectation of being satisfied for it — Philip Luckombe
2.
a. obsolete : to serve as compensation for (a loss or injury) : avenge , requite
b.
(1) : to do penance for (a sin)
(2) : to make atonement or reparation to (an injured party) : indemnify
conclude a treaty to satisfy Indians deprived of their hereditary lands
3.
a. : to make happy : please
in the position of having to satisfy teachers and critics — R.M.Weaver
farmers … were satisfied with the administration's flexible farm support program — Wall Street Journal
a picture, in whatever degree it be realistic or nonrealistic, should … satisfy the eye — C.W.H.Johnson
b. : to gratify to the full : appease , satiate
satisfied his omnivorous appetite for reading in the village library — A.C.Cole
the men in the capital … do their utmost to gauge and to satisfy the desires of the nation — Lester Markel
4.
a. : to persuade by argument or evidence : convince
took me a long time to satisfy them … that my engagements prevented me from presiding — O.S.J.Gogarty
not satisfied that I have penetrated this allegory — Paul Pickrel
b. : to put an end to (doubt or uncertainty) : dispel
many a world-renowned lecturer came up the Mississippi … to satisfy his curiosity — American Guide Series: Minnesota
c. : to answer or express fully
a question or two in the unquiet heads which nothing can ever satisfy — W.L.Sullivan
cloying repetitions that do not satisfy the romantic illusion he has created — I.L.Salomon
5.
a. : to conform to (accepted criteria or requirements) : fulfill , meet
if a consignment does not satisfy all the conditions … it is graded down — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
able … to satisfy the demands of a moral, Victorian society — Ruth R. Chapman
an explanation which might satisfy these statements and be true to the evidence — H.Lovegrove
b. : to comply with (an academic requirement)
courses … taken to satisfy the distribution requirements — Official Register of Harvard University
c. : to provide a solution for ; specifically : to substitute an expression for an unknown quantity in (an equation) so that the resulting equation is true
d. : to serve as an embodiment of : give concrete expression to : exemplify
the first American foundation which satisfies the definition — F.E.Andrews
a social regime can come into enduring existence only as it satisfies some elements of human nature not previously afforded expression — John Dewey
6. : to respond to by chemical union
to satisfy valences
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to do penance : atone ; specifically : to fulfill the requirements of divine justice
2. : to be a source of pleasure or gratification : please , suffice
where the play seems not to satisfy is in the full release of emotions — Leslie Rees
Synonyms:
content: satisfy usually implies full appeasement of a desire, longing, need, or requirement
satisfy curiosity
satisfy an appetite
satisfy the desire for power — W.G.Walter
the needs which such an effort purports to satisfy — Abram Kardiner
content usually implies gratification of a desire or longing to the point where one is not disquieted or disturbed even though every wish is not fully realized
must content myself with adducing some fresh evidence on the subject — J.G.Frazer
contented with the same food, clothing and lodging which satisfied them in former times — Adam Smith
Synonyms:
satisfy , fulfill , meet , answer all imply the ability to measure up to a set of criteria or requirements. satisfy often implies adequacy to a practical extent or for a stated purpose
went a long way toward satisfying the long-standing claims of his critics — Time
a culture which will satisfy our needs — J.B.Conant
finding the way to satisfy her demands — A.S.Igleheart
fulfill , when it is not interchangeable with satisfy , may connote more abundance or richness of qualification
fulfill the requirement for graduation
fulfill his greatest need
fulfill all conditions imposed upon a candidate for office
meet implies an exactness of agreement between a requirement and what is submitted to fill it
the instruments met all the criteria with above-average ratings — Helen Vodicka
the student has not met all financial obligations to the University — Loyola University Bulletin
the provisions were sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of men with very large families — R.A.Billington
answer usually though not necessarily implies the simple satisfaction of a demand, need, or purpose often in a temporary or expedient manner and may imply some falling short in completeness or fullness of qualification
answer a need
though a sharp knife should be used, a dull one will answer the purpose
answer in some way the demands of a growing child for good counseling
Synonym: see in addition pay .