Optimism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/

Definitions

1. A feeling of hopefulness and confidence that good things will happen in the future
2. A mindset characterized by a general expectation of positive outcomes and belief in favorable possibilities for the future
3. An attitude marked by an inclination to see the best in situations and anticipate beneficial results ahead

Etymology: The word grew from the Latin superlative "optimus," meaning "best," which is also the root of "optimal" and "optimum." Adding the suffix "-ism," which turns a root into a doctrine or outlook, produced a term for a belief that things are going for the best. English borrowed the word from French "optimisme," and its arrival in English is what makes it a relatively late coinage compared with the older Latin words it draws on. What makes the story interesting is the gap between the Latin root and the modern sense. "Optimus" never meant anything about hope or expectation; it simply ranked things as the best of a group. The idea of a cheerful outlook was built on top of that ranking, so the word describes a mental attitude using a vocabulary of quality and superiority.

Synonyms: hopefulness, positivity, sanguinity

Antonyms: pessimism, despair, gloom