satisfiableadj.
/ˈsatᵻsfʌɪəbl/, U.S. /ˈsædəsˌfaɪəb(ə)l/ 1. Satisfactory; sufficient, adequate; pleasing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > [adjective] > contenting or satisfying > satisfactory
acceptedc1384
allowablec1443
easyc1485
satisfiable1581
contentable1633
satisfactory1640
1581 A. Munday True Rep. Successe Eng. Souldiours in Ireland sig. A.iiij The good entertainement that they looked for there: which (thanks be to God) they found not so satisfiable to theyr wicked expectacion, as agreeable to their iust desarts.
1609 Bp. T. Morton Direct Answer Higgons 6 I shall presently returne him..a satisfiable answer.
1657 J. Ford Ess. Orig. Righteousness & Conveyed Sin 194 If plain Scripture-Texts..be not sufficient for a man to rest both his Science and Conscience upon, I know not where he will find a resting satisfiable place.
1931 Groesbeck (Texas) Jrnl. 20 Mar. The State Inspector visited in our school Thursday and submitted a satisfiable report of its condition.
1973 Winchester (Va.) Evening Star 26 July 18/4 He's met with a satisfiable amount of success..and plans on applying for a professional license next year.
2016 Dorset Echo (Nexis) 9 May They came to a very satisfiable agreement and we have been meeting here ever since.
2.
a. Capable of being satisfied (in various senses of the verb).
ΚΠ
1589 Declar. Causes Arrest of Shippes 3 The king..perseuereth,..in his hostile intendement against her Maiestie, not otherwise contentable or satisfiable then with her destruction.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. vii. 96 This may satisfie (if this man be satisfiable) that bold challenge of the former page.
1663 J. Mayne tr. Lucian Part of Lucian sig. Pp4v Having but one belly satisfyable with a little.
1719 J. Lilly Pract. Reg. I. 13 Every Tort and Injury begets Discord and Variance, which by Accord and Concord between the Parties is satisfiable.
1824 London Mag. Aug. 185/1 That ready and satisfiable sense of beauty which I have remarked in the [female] sex, who are pleased with what we almost despise.
1874 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera IV. xlvi. 241 Merely expressing anxiety for my welfare, not satisfiable but by letters, which do not promote it.
1942 W. S. Churchill End of Beginning (1943) 228 All these conditions were satisfiable around 23rd October.
2009 Guardian (Nexis) 8 Aug. 2 Appetite..is inherently satisfiable. So the excess of appetite we call greed is actually a form of despair.
b. Mathematical Logic. Designating a formula or set of formulae for which there is at least one model (model n. 8b) in which they are all true.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > [adjective] > able to be
contentable1576
satisfiable1935
the world > food and drink > food > providing or receiving food > [adjective] > fed or nourished > capable of being satisfied
satisfiable1935
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [adjective] > satisfied > that can be
satiable1536
satisfiable1935
1935 Analysis 3 4 An AS [= axiom system] is called satisfiable if there exists at least one interpretation.
2013 S. Aaronson Quantum Computing since Democritus xiii. 194 If there's a valid proof, then the formula is satisfiable.
Derivatives
satisfiaˈbility n. the quality of being satisfiable, esp. (Mathematical Logic) in sense 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [noun] > adequacy for case or conditions > ability to be satisfied (of conditions)
satisfiability1882
1882 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 5 214 The condition that two points shall have the same tangential (which includes the condition that they shall lie on the same cubic) is the simultaneous satisfiability of the four equations.
1935 Analysis 3 4 An AS [axiom system] is called satisfiable if there exists at least one interpretation. Satisfiability certainly implies consistency.
2008 E.-R. Olderog & H. Dierks Real-time Syst. iii. 133 Satisfiability is even undecidable for the case of discrete time and at least one spatial dimension.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1581