Satisfaction, n.
Etymology: [OE. satisfaccioum, F. satisfaction, fr. L. satisfactio, fr. satisfacere to satisfy. See Satisfy.]
1. The act of satisfying, or the state of being satisfied; gratification of desire; contentment in possession and enjoyment; repose of mind resulting from compliance with its desires or demands. The mind having a power to suspend the execution and satisfaction of any of its desires. Locke.
2. Settlement of a claim, due, or demand; payment; indemnification; adequate compensation. We shall make full satisfaction. Shak.
3. That which satisfies or gratifiles; atonement. Die he, or justice must; unless or him Some other, able, and as willing, pay The rigid satisfaction, death for death. Milton.
Syn. -- Contentment; content; gratification; pleasure; recompence; compensation; amends; remuneration; indemnification; atonement.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for satisfaction; he lists it under happiness, propitiation.
Where he writes about it:
Gratification is the giving any mental or physical desire something that it craves; satisfaction is the giving such a desire all that it craves. — from happiness
Happiness is the positively agreeable experience that springs from the possession of good, the gratification or satisfaction of the desires or the relief from pain and evil. — from happiness
Pleasure is still more vivid, being an arousing of the faculties to an intensely agreeable activity; satisfaction is more tranquil than pleasure, being the agreeable consciousness of having all that our faculties demand or crave; when a worthy pleasure is past, a worthy satisfaction remains. — from happiness
As referring to a mental state, gratification is used to denote a mild form of happiness resulting from some incident not of very great importance; satisfaction should properly express a happiness deeper, more complete, and more abiding; but as intellect or sensibilities of a low order may find satisfaction in that which is very poor or unworthy, the word has come to be feeble and tame in ordinary use. — from happiness
Happiness is more positive than comfort, enjoyment, or satisfaction, more serene and rational than pleasure; pleasure is of necessity transient; happiness is abiding, and may be eternal; thus, we speak of pleasures, but the plural of happiness is scarcely used. — from happiness
Happiness, in the full sense, is mental or spiritual or both, and is viewed as resulting from some worthy gratification or satisfaction; we may speak of a brute as experiencing comfort or pleasure, but scarcely as in possession of happiness; we speak of vicious pleasure, delight, or joy, but not of vicious happiness. — from happiness
Satisfaction in this connection denotes the rendering a full legal equivalent for the wrong done. — from propitiation
Propitiation appeases the lawgiver; satisfaction meets the requirements of the law. — from propitiation