'Panglossian' describes excessive optimism, believing that everything happens for the best, named after a character in Voltaire's 'Candide'.
Panglossian describes someone excessively optimistic, believing 'all is for the best'. The term is named after Dr. Pangloss, an optimist character from Voltaire's novel 'Candide'.
| Word | Panglossian |
|---|---|
| Date | February 11, 2010 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | pan-GLAH-see-un |
| Etymology | Dr. Pangloss was the pedantic old tutor in Voltaire's satirical novel Candide. Pangloss was an incurable, albeit misguided, optimist who claimed that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." So persistent was he in his optimism that he kept it even after witnessing and experiencing great cruelty and suffering. The name "Pangloss" comes from Greek "pan," meaning "all," and "glossa," meaning "tongue," suggesting glibness and talkativeness. |
| Examples | Even the most Panglossian temperament would have had trouble finding the good in this situation. |
| Definition | : marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
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