Revised 2019
satisfactorilyadverb
Factsheet
What does the adverb satisfactorily mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adverb satisfactorily. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the adverb satisfactorily?
About 4occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 1.1 |
| 1760 | 1.2 |
| 1770 | 1.6 |
| 1780 | 2.0 |
| 1790 | 2.9 |
| 1800 | 4.1 |
| 1810 | 5.6 |
| 1820 | 7.3 |
| 1830 | 8.6 |
| 1840 | 9.1 |
| 1850 | 8.9 |
| 1860 | 8.8 |
| 1870 | 8.5 |
| 1880 | 8.3 |
| 1890 | 8.1 |
| 1900 | 8.6 |
| 1910 | 9.3 |
| 1920 | 9.9 |
| 1930 | 10 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1950 | 9.7 |
| 1960 | 8.4 |
| 1970 | 6.8 |
| 1980 | 5.2 |
| 1990 | 3.8 |
| 2000 | 3.0 |
| 2010 | 2.7 |
How is the adverb satisfactorily pronounced?
British English
/ˌsatᵻsˈfakt(ə)rᵻli/
sat-uhss-FACK-tuh-ruh-lee
U.S. English
/ˌsædəsˈfæktərəli/
sad-uhss-FACK-tuhr-uh-lee
Where does the adverb satisfactorily come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1500s
The earliest known use of the adverb satisfactorily is in the mid 1500s.
OED's earliest evidence for satisfactorily is from 1561, in a translation by Thomas Norton, lawyer and writer.
satisfactorily is formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: satisfactory adj., ‑ly suffix2.
Nearby entries
- satisfactionar, n.1550–61
- satisfactionary, n.1562–1629
- satisfactionist, n.1668–
- satisfactionless, adj.1841–
- satisfaction money, n.1651–
- satisfaction note, n.1971–
- satisfaction piece, n.1733–
- satisfaction theory, n.?c1845–
- satisfactive, adj. & n.1646–
- satisfactor, n.1534–1607
- satisfactorily, adv.1561–
- satisfactoriness, n.1642–
- satisfactorious, adj.1561–1862
- satisfactoriously, adv.1661–72
- satisfactory, adj. & n.c1443–
- satisfiability, n.1882–
- satisfiable, adj.1581–
- satisfice, v.?1531–
- satisficer, n.1960–
- satisficing, n.?1531–
- satisficing, adj.1956–
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for satisfactorily, adv.
satisfactorily, adv. was revised in September 2019.
satisfactorily, adv. was last modified in July 2023.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into satisfactorily, adv. in July 2023.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1909)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Citation details
Factsheet for satisfactorily, adv.
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Nearby entries
- satisfactionar, n.1550–61
- satisfactionary, n.1562–1629
- satisfactionist, n.1668–
- satisfactionless, adj.1841–
- satisfaction money, n.1651–
- satisfaction note, n.1971–
- satisfaction piece, n.1733–
- satisfaction theory, n.?c1845–
- satisfactive, adj. & n.1646–
- satisfactor, n.1534–1607
- satisfactorily, adv.1561–
- satisfactoriness, n.1642–
- satisfactorious, adj.1561–1862
- satisfactoriously, adv.1661–72
- satisfactory, adj. & n.c1443–
- satisfiability, n.1882–
- satisfiable, adj.1581–
- satisfice, v.?1531–
- satisficer, n.1960–
- satisficing, n.?1531–
- satisficing, adj.1956–
