optimism

optimism
optimism (n.) 1759, in translations of Voltaire, from Fr. optimisme (1737), from Mod.L. optimum, used by Leibnitz (in "Théodicée," 1710) to mean "the greatest good," from L. optimus "the best" (see OPTIMUM (Cf. optimum)). The doctrine holds that the actual world is the "best of all possible worlds," in which the creator accomplishes the most good at the cost of the least evil.
En termes de l'art, il l'appelle la raison du meilleurou plus savamment encore, et Theologiquement autant que Géométriquement, le systême de l'Optimum,ou l'Optimisme. [Mémoires de Trévoux, Feb. 1737]
Launched out of philosophical jargon and into currency by Voltaire's satire on it in "Candide." General sense of "belief that good ultimately will prevail in the world" first attested 1841 in Emerson; meaning "tendency to take a hopeful view of things" first recorded 1819 in Shelley.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Optimism — • A metaphysical theory or an emotional disposition. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Optimism     Optimism     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • optimism — op‧ti‧mis‧m [ˈɒptmɪzm ǁ ˈɑːp ] noun [uncountable] a feeling or belief that things will get better or be more successful in the future: • There is an air of optimism now in Taiwan. optimism about • Shares gained from renewed optimism about… …   Financial and business terms

  • optimism — OPTIMÍSM s.n. Concepţie filozofică potrivit căreia în lume binele precumpăneşte asupra răului, iar lumea existentă este cea mai bună dintre lumile posibile; atitudine a omului care priveşte cu încredere viaţa şi viitorul; tendinţă de a vedea… …   Dicționar Român

  • Optimism — Op ti*mism, n. [L. optimus the best; akin to optio choice: cf. F. optimisme. See {Option}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature, being the work of God, is ordered for the best, or that the ordering of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • optimism — index confidence (faith), faith, longanimity Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • optimism — [n] state of having positive beliefs anticipation, assurance, brightness, buoyancy, calmness, certainty, cheer, cheerfulness, confidence, easiness, elation, encouragement, enthusiasm, exhilaration, expectation, good cheer, happiness, hopefulness …   New thesaurus

  • optimism — ► NOUN 1) hopefulness and confidence about the future or success of something. 2) Philosophy the doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds. DERIVATIVES optimist noun optimistic adjective optimistically adverb. ORIGIN French… …   English terms dictionary

  • optimism — [äp′tə miz΄əm] n. [Fr optimisme < L optimus, best: see OPTIMUM] 1. Philos. a) the doctrine held by Leibniz and others that the existing world is the best possible b) the doctrine or belief that good ultimately prevails over evil 2. the… …   English World dictionary

  • Optimism — Positive thinking redirects here. For songs of that title, see Positive Thinking. The Oxford English Dictionary defines optimism as having hopefulness and confidence about the future or successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a… …   Wikipedia

  • optimism — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ considerable, great, tremendous (esp. BrE) ▪ sunny (esp. AmE) ▪ some ▪ cautious, guarded …   Collocations dictionary

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