optimistic, sanguine

optimistic, sanguine
As is suggested in the entry OPTIMIST, optimistic, an adjective, means "inclined or disposed to take a favorable view of life." Sanguine has the somewhat related meanings of "cheerful," "confident," "hopeful": "He is a lively, sanguine person." (Sanguine, derived from a Latin term meaning "bloody," has acquired its present meaning because, in medieval physiology, ruddy-faced people were considered healthy, animated, spirited, and buoyant.) Sanguine is a more precise word than optimistic, which is overused. In a sentence such as "Tom is not optimistic about bis chances for leaving early," either sanguine or hopeful might replace optimistic.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • sanguine — See optimistic. See optimistic, sanguine …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • sanguine — san|guine [ˈsæŋgwın] adj formal [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: sanguin, from Latin sanguineus, from sanguis blood ] happy and hopeful about the future = ↑optimistic sanguine about ▪ Other economists are more sanguine about the possibility of …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • optimistic — See optimistic, sanguine …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Sanguine — San guine, a. [F. sanguin, L. sanguineus, fr. sanguis blood. Cf. {Sanguineous}.] 1. Having the color of blood; red. [1913 Webster] Of his complexion he was sanguine. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe. Milton …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sanguine (disambiguation) — Sanguine can refer to:* Sanguine personality optimistic, cheerful, even tempered, confident, rational, popular, fun loving; the temperament of blood . One of the four humours, the others being choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic * Sanguine… …   Wikipedia

  • sanguine — ► ADJECTIVE 1) cheerfully optimistic. 2) (in medieval medicine) having a predominance of blood among the bodily humours, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition. ORIGIN Old French, blood red , from Latin sanguis… …   English terms dictionary

  • Optimistic — Op ti*mis tic, a. 1. (Metaph.) Of or pertaining to optimism; tending, or conforming, to the opinion that all events are ordered for the best. [1913 Webster] 2. Hopeful; sanguine; as, an optimistic view. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sanguine — sanguine, sanguinary Both words are derived from the Latin word sanguis (stem sanguin ) meaning ‘blood’. Sanguine originally meant ‘blood coloured’ but now primarily means ‘optimistic, confident’ from an earlier association of blood (one of the… …   Modern English usage

  • sanguine — [adj1] happy; optimistic animated, assured, buoyant, cheerful, confident, enthusiastic, expectant, hopeful, lively, positive, secure, self assured, self confident, spirited, undoubtful, upbeat; concepts 403,542 Ant. depressed, pessimistic, sad,… …   New thesaurus

  • sanguine / saturnine —    Sanguine means red, ruddy or optimistic : I am not sanguine about your getting this job.    Saturnine means being moody, sullen, or melancholy : Ima Aiken falls into a saturnine mood every time her husband Hadley goes away on business …   Confused words

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