oppfylte

Oppfylte is the preterite form of the Norwegian verb oppfylle, meaning to fulfill, satisfy, or meet a condition, obligation, or goal. The verb is used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk and covers actions such as meeting requirements, completing promises, or realizing aspirations.

The form oppfylte is used to convey past completion or realization. For example: Bedriften oppfylte alle kravene i avtalen (The company fulfilled all the requirements in the agreement). Han oppfylte løftet (He fulfilled the promise). Drømmen ble oppfylt is a common construction when the dream itself is realized, though in that case the passive participle oppfylt is often used.

Past participle and related forms: The past participle oppfylt is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses, as in har oppfylt or hadde oppfylt. The present tense is oppfyller (he/she/it fulfills). The noun form oppfyllelse refers to the act or state of fulfilling, i.e., fulfillment or realization, and oppfyllende can describe something that fulfills or satisfies.

Etymology and nuance: Oppfylle derives from opp- (a prefix implying completion or upward action) and fylle (to fill). The term is commonly used in legal, contractual, organizational, and goal-oriented contexts to denote that specified criteria have been met. It is distinct from related verbs like fullføre (to complete in a broader sense) and innfri (to redeem or meet expectations in specific contexts).

In usage, oppfylte emphasizes the attainment of stated conditions or promises, while oppfylt as a participle underlines completed fulfillment in a broader range of tenses.