Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
opt
opt.
opt-in e-mail
opt out
opt-out
optative
optic
optic axis
optic chiasma
optic cup
optic disk
optic nerve
optic vesicle
optical
optical activity
optical art
optical brightener
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

optimism

op·ti·mism [ óptə mìzzəm ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. tendency to expect best: the tendency to believe, expect, or hope that things will turn out well

2. confidence: the attitude of somebody who feels positive or confident

3. philosophy doctrine that our world is best: a philosophical doctrine, first proposed by Leibnitz, that ours is the best of all possible worlds

4. philosophy belief in power of good: the belief that things are continually getting better and that good will ultimately triumph over evil

[Mid-18th century. < French optimisme< Latin optimum (see optimum)]
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft