Satisfying

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈsætɪsfaɪ.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Delivering a sense of pleasure by fulfilling demands or expectations
2. Giving a sense of contentment or pleasure by meeting needs or desires
3. Producing a feeling of gratification when a requirement or wish is achieved

Etymology: The adjective "satisfying" is simply the verb "satisfy" with the ending "-ing" attached, and that ending has a longer story than the verb. The "-ing" suffix descends from an Old English form "-ende," which was used to build present participles, and in Middle English it blended with a rival ending, "-inge," so that by the time English speakers were turning "satisfy" into a describing word, the suffix had a worn, merged shape much like the one we use today. The verb itself is the more dramatic traveller. It was borrowed into Middle English from Old French "satisfier," which in turn came from Latin "satisfacere," literally "to do enough." The Latin root "satis" meant "enough," and "facere" meant "to do" or "make," so a thing that satisfied was one that did enough to meet a demand or appetite. The sense of pleasing or gratifying grew naturally out of that idea of meeting a need in full.

Synonyms: pleasing, gratifying, fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable

Antonyms: dissatisfying, unpleasant, displeasing, unfulfilling, unsatisfying