optimist
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɒptɪmɪst//
- United States//ˈɑptɪmɪst//
A person who expects a favourable outcome.
noun
- 1
A person who expects a favourable outcome.
We are becoming as a nation, as a world, indeed, atom-conscious. Many of us are already afflicted with atomphobia, though so far it has manifested itself only in a mirage of autoaeromotive discs and a war of words between chronic optimists and empirical pessimists concerning civilization’s probable future.
- 2
A believer in optimism.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi Proto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos ? Latin optimus Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ῐσμός (-ĭsmós)bor. Latin -ismusbor. French -isme French optim(isme) ▲ Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istabor. French -iste French optimistebor. English optimist Borrowed from French optimiste.
Forms
- plural
- optimists
optimist · A person who expects a favourable outcome.
Optimist · A small centreboard sailing dinghy designed to train and…optimistic · Expecting the best in all possible ways.Optimus · A pet name for a device, such as a car, computer, or robot.