optimism


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op·ti·mism

 (ŏp′tə-mĭz′əm)
n.
1. A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation.
2. Philosophy
a. The doctrine, asserted by Leibniz, that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
b. The belief that the universe is improving and that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

[French optimisme, from New Latin optimum, the greatest good; see optimum.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

optimism

(ˈɒptɪˌmɪzəm)
n
1. the tendency to expect the best and see the best in all things
2. hopefulness; confidence
3. (Philosophy) the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of good over evil
4. (Philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that this is the best of all possible worlds
[C18: from French optimisme, from Latin optimus best, superlative of bonus good]
ˈoptimist n
ˌoptiˈmistic, ˌoptiˈmistical adj
ˌoptiˈmistically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

op•ti•mism

(ˈɒp təˌmɪz əm)

n.
1. a tendency to look on the more favorable side or to expect the most favorable outcome of events or conditions.
2. the belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil and that virtue will be rewarded.
3. the doctrine that the existing world is the best of all possible worlds.
[1730–40; < French optimisme < Latin optim(um) (see optimum) + French -isme -ism]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

optimism

1. the belief that good is ultimately triumphant over the evil in the world.
2. the Leibnizian doctrine that this is the best of all possible worlds.
3. the belief that goodness pervades reality. Cf. meliorism, pessimism.optimist, n.optimistic, adj.
See also: Philosophy
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.optimism - the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out welloptimism - the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
hope - the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled; "in spite of his troubles he never gave up hope"
sanguineness, sanguinity - feeling sanguine; optimistically cheerful and confident
pessimism - the feeling that things will turn out badly
2.optimism - a general disposition to expect the best in all things
disposition, temperament - your usual mood; "he has a happy disposition"
pessimism - a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

optimism

noun hope, confidence, buoyancy, positive attitude, hopefulness, positiveness The President has expressed his optimism about the deal.
Quotations
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour" [Robert Louis Stevenson Virginibus Puerisque]
Proverbs
"Every cloud has a silver lining"
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

optimism

noun
A tendency to expect a favorable outcome or to dwell on hopeful aspects:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تَفَاؤُلٌتَفاؤُل
optimismus
optimisme
optimismi
optimizam
optimizmus
bjartsÿni
楽観主義
낙천주의
optimistasoptimistinisoptimistiškai
optimisms
optimizmus
optimizem
optimism
การมองในแง่ดี
sự lạc quan

optimism

[ˈɒptɪmɪzəm] Noptimismo m
the Prime Minister has expressed optimism about the outcome of the talksel primer ministro ha expresado su optimismo acerca del resultado de las negociaciones
there is some cause for optimismhay algunas razones para ser optimistas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

optimism

[ˈɒptɪmɪzəm] noptimisme m
to express optimism → se montrer optimiste
to express optimism about doing sth → se montrer optimiste quant aux chances de faire qch
The president expressed optimism about reaching a peaceful settlement → Le président s'est montré optimiste quant aux chances de parvenir à un règlement pacifique.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

optimism

nOptimismus m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

optimism

[ˈɒptɪˌmɪzm] nottimismo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

optimism

(ˈoptimizəm) noun
a state of mind in which one always hopes or expects that something good will happen. Even when it was obvious to the others that he was not going to succeed he was full of optimism.
ˈoptimist noun
ˌoptiˈmistic adjective
always hoping or believing that something good will happen. an optimistic person/attitude.
optiˈmistically adverb
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

optimism

تَفَاؤُلٌ optimismus optimisme Optimismus αισιοδοξία optimismo optimismi optimisme optimizam ottimismo 楽観主義 낙천주의 optimisme optimisme optymizm otimismo оптимизм optimism การมองในแง่ดี iyimserlik sự lạc quan 乐观
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

optimism

n optimismo
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Cold reason, he boasted, was the basis of his optimism. Yes, optimism -
He had, already, accompanied his master on several journeys, and had a smattering of science appropriate to his condition and style of mind, but he was especially remarkable for a sort of mild philosophy, a charming turn of optimism. In his sight every thing was easy, logical, natural, and, consequently, he could see no use in complaining or grumbling.
A large faith he might seem to have in what is called "natural optimism," the beauty and benignity of nature, if let alone, in her mechanical round of changes with man and beast and flower.
But Anne, with her elbows on the window sill, her soft cheek laid against her clasped hands, and her eyes filled with visions, looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth's own optimism. All the Beyond was hers with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years--each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.
His political and social speeches were cataracts of anecdotes and "loud laughter"; his bodily health was of a bursting sort; his ethics were all optimism; and he dealt with the Drink problem (his favourite topic) with that immortal or even monotonous gaiety which is so often a mark of the prosperous total abstainer.
He admired her courage, her optimism, her impudent defiance of fate; she had a little philosophy of her own, ingenuous and practical.
The three men who sat together upon a huge divan, the three men most powerful in directing the councils of their country, felt a gentle wave of optimism stealing through their quickened blood.
He overcame Pessimism by discovering an object in existence; he saw the possibility of raising society to a higher level and preached the profoundest Optimism in consequence.
"Has the optimism been imbibed," she asked, "or is it spontaneous?"
He was still optimistic, but it was a less kinetic, a more thoughtful optimism. I remember he wound up with my health, proposed in a speech of small variety and considerable intermittence.
To-day, as ever, he is ready to beguile and betray, to smash and to drown the incorrigible optimism of men who, backed by the fidelity of ships, are trying to wrest from him the fortune of their house, the dominion of their world, or only a dole of food for their hunger.
Perry was becoming more hopeful, although upon what meager food he sustained his optimism I could not conjecture.