Definition of fulfil

The word "fulfil" is a transitive verb that means to complete or satisfy a requirement, wish, or prophecy. Its origin can be traced back to the Middle English period around the 14th century, where the word was spelled "fyllen" and pronounced as "fillen." Over time, the spelling of the word evolved due to the influence of Latin. In Latin, the verb "plere" means to fill, so during the Renaissance, English scholars began to adopt the Latin spelling "i" instead of "y" in words with a similar Latin origin, such as "fulfill" and "future" (originally "futur" in Latin). The additional "u" in "fulfil" was added to make the pronunciation more accurate to the French pronunciation. The more commonly used spelling variation, "fulfill," gained popularity in the US during the 19th century due to the influence of Britishspelling reformers such as Noah Webster. Webster, who created the first American dictionary in 1828, advocated for simplifying English spelling to better reflect its pronunciation. "Fulfill" became the preferred spelling in American English, while "fulfil" remained the preferred spelling in British English. Today, both "fulfill" and "fulfil" are widely used, and their meanings are largely interchangeable in modern English.