6 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

The Word of the Day has been fulfilled at last.

A most timely comment indeed.

Just the facts:

FULFILLED Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

FULFILLED Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

FULFILL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

FULFILL Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

FULFILLING Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

FULFILLING Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

FULFILLMENT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

FULFILLMENT Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

FULFILLS Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

The word fulfilled comes from the Middle English word fulfillen and the Old English word fulfyllan, which means "to fill full" or "to make full".  It combines full (complete) and fyllan (to fill), tracing back to the Proto-Germanic root fullijaną and Proto-Indo-European pleh₁- (to fill).  By the mid-13th century the Old English word shifted to mean carrying out a duty or prophecy (translating Latin implere), performing a task, or executing a command.  By roughly 1300 It evolved to mean finishing a time period, satisfying a requirement, or feeling emotionally gratified and complete.  

The earliest known use of the adjective fulfilled in English is from 1340 in the Middle English text Ayenbite of Inwyt, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.  The first recorded use verb (fulfill) was in the Old English period (before 1150) as fullfyllan, meaning "to fill up, make full, or complete".  The noun (fulfilment) was first recorded much later in 1624 in the writings of A. Logie as fulfilment. 

The concept of fulfillment in storytelling is vital because it provides emotional payoff, defines character arcs, and resolves narrative tension. It delivers a sense of completion that satisfies the audience's investment in the plot. 

Emotional Payoff and Reader Satisfaction:  |
Closing the loop: Gives readers the emotional reward they expect after following a character through struggles and conflict.  
Validating stakes: Proves that the hardships, risks, and pacing of the plot mattered.  
Relatability: Realizing goals or finding purpose makes characters feel deeply human and memorable. 

Character Growth and Themes: 
Proving change: Shows how much a person or hero has grown from beginning to end.  
Core message: Delivers the underlying moral or life lesson the author wants to share.  
Internal peace: Marks the moment a character aligns their actions with their true values or destiny.