Satisfaction comes from a combination of the Latin words satis, which means enough, and facere, which means to do. The word satisfactionem meant debt repayment. Over time, it acquired other shades of meaning.
Meaning
In the context of religion, this word denoted a set of actions prescribed to be performed by a priest in order to atone for sins and receive absolution. Somewhat later, the word "satisfaction" acquired an additional meaning. They began to designate compensation for moral damage that was caused by personal insult. This compensation could only be obtained during a duel.
This word came into Russian during the reign of Peter the Great. Dahl believes that it came from French, and Vasmer is convinced that it was borrowed from Polish. In the Russian language it was used precisely in the narrow "duel" sense. When dueling was banned, the term took on an ironic connotation and gradually became obsolete. In the modern world, the phrase "I demand satisfaction" most often signals the speaker's desire to receive an apology, but not about being challenged to a duel.
In general, the duel in our usual sense appeared in Russia at about the same time as the word "satisfaction", that is, during the reign of Peter the Great, who was actively involved in the formation of his contemporary noble class. Duels have become an exhaustive way to resolve most conflicts. They were so widespread that Peter himself ordered the execution of all participants (seconds, witnesses and duelists), regardless of the outcome of the duel. Catherine II considered duels uncharacteristic, superficial for Russia and fought them in every possible way.
In the modern world, the word "satisfaction" has a more global meaning. Political satisfaction means that a country fulfills certain requirements as compensation for wrongful acts.
Satisfaction in Russian
The domestic nobility, in spite of everything, closely accepted the idea of a duel, the right to a duel made it possible to take responsibility for their own fate (even if it sometimes led to death). The duel was often used as a kind of high court; according to the laws of honor, it was already impossible to reject a challenge once thrown.
The conditions of Russian duels were considered the most brutal in all of Europe. This is what made them very convenient for political assassinations.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, duels took the actual satisfaction for insult to honor a secondary role. The main thing was the conviction or belief in their right to punish any person. For example, there was a kind of retaliation duel on romantic grounds; in such fights, the issue of honor was not at all touched upon. Duels were often used as a method of political or contract killing. Needless to say, such fights had nothing to do with the satisfaction of moral damage?
