Fulfilments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of realizing or achieving something desired or promised
2. A feeling of satisfaction and completion derived from meeting expectations or goals
3. The process of carrying out or putting into effect a set of obligations or promises

Etymology: "Fulfilments" is the plural of "fulfilment," the British spelling of "fulfillment," so the core history belongs to the verb. "Fulfil" was formed in Old English as "fulfyllan," built from "ful" ("full") and "fyllan" ("to fill"), so to fulfil something is literally to make it full. The sense of carrying out a promise or completing a desire developed from that image of filling up an empty space or an unmet obligation. The noun "fulfilment" is a later formation, built by adding the suffix "-ment" to the verb. The plural "fulfilments" simply refers to several instances of this act, such as the completion of different promises or desires. The spelling with a single "l" is the usual British form, while American English typically writes "fulfillment."

Synonyms: completions, achievements, realizations

Antonyms: failures, disappointments