fulfilled
UK[fʊlˈfɪld]US[fʊlˈfɪld]
adj
Feeling happy and satisfied because you are using your abilities, achieving your goals, or living the life you want.
verb (past tense and past participle of 'fulfill')
To do or achieve what was hoped for or expected; to meet a requirement or condition.
Morpheme Breakdown
ful
fill
ed
ful
full
fill
to make full
ed
adjective/past participle suffix
Etymology
The word 'fulfilled' is built upon the Old English verb fyllan, meaning "to fill up, make full," which itself derives from the Proto-Germanic fullijaną. This verb is directly related to the adjective fullaz (full). The prefix 'ful-' is a cognate variant of 'full,' serving to intensify the core meaning. The '-ed' suffix marks its status as a past participle. Thus, the literal sense is "made completely full." Over centuries, this concrete notion of filling a container evolved metaphorically into the abstract meanings of satisfying conditions, realizing potential, or completing a purpose, leading to its modern senses of achievement and deep personal satisfaction.
Analysis
Structure: ful (full) + fill (to make full) + ed (adjective/past participle suffix)
- 'ful': From Old English full, meaning "full, complete." In this word, it acts as an intensifying prefix.
- 'fill': From Old English fyllan, meaning "to make full, to satisfy." It is the core verb root.
- 'ed': A suffix from Old English -od/-ad, used to form the past tense and past participle of verbs, and subsequently adjectives from those participles.
Examples
After years of striving, she finally felt truly fulfilled in her career.
The company fulfilled all its contractual obligations ahead of schedule.
His creative work is what fulfills him most.