different between satisfactory vs righteous

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Late Latin satisfact?rius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaci?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sæt?s?fækt(?)?i/
• Rhymes: -ækt??i

Adjective

satisfactory (comparative more satisfactory, superlative most satisfactory)

1. Done to satisfaction; adequate or sufficient.

   The satisfactory results of the survey led to his promotion.
2. Causing satisfaction; agreeable or pleasant; satisfying.
3. (theology) Making atonement for a sin; expiatory.

Usage notes

Although structurally similar (both being derived from satisfy and describing that which produces satisfaction), satisfactory (def. 1) and satisfying differ in connotation. Satisfactory connotes "adequate, conforming to standards," while satisfying connotes "pleasing, or sufficient to remove any feeling of lack." An answer to a question or the outcome of a situation, for example, could be satisfactory without being satisfying, if it met the requirements but left one wanting more.

Derived terms

• satisfactorily (adv)
• unsatisfactory (adj)

Related terms

• satisfaction (n)
• satisfied (adj)

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• rightuous, rightwise (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtw?s (“righteous, just, right, justifiable”), corresponding to right +? -wise (with assimilation of second element to -ous), or to right +? wise (“way, manner”). Cognate with Scots richtwis (“righteous”), Old High German rehtw?sic (“righteous, just”), Icelandic réttvíss (“righteous, just”). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?t??s/
• Rhymes: -a?t??s

Adjective

righteous (comparative more righteous, superlative most righteous)

1. Free from sin or guilt.
2. Moral and virtuous, to the point of sanctimonious.

3. Justified morally.

   righteous indignation

4. (slang, US) Awesome; great.
   • 1995, Norman L. Russell, Doug Grad, Suicide Charlie: A Vietnam War Story (page 191)

     He sold me a bulging paper sack full of Cambodian Red for two dolla' MPC. A strange experience, copping from a kid, but it was righteous weed.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

righteous (third-person singular simple present righteouses, present participle righteousing, simple past and past participle righteoused)

1. To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 101:

     Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.