Panglossian
adjective

- marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic

Merriam-Webster

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ORIGIN

In Voltaire's satirical novel Candide (1759), Dr Pangloss was a misguided optimist who insisted on his positive worldview, even in the face of all the horror and nastiness in the world.

The name "pangloss" comes from the Greek 'pan', meaning 'all', and 'glossa', meaning 'tongue', suggesting talkativeness.

The first known use of panglossian is from 1831.

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SYNONYMS

always expecting the best, assured, bullish, buoyant, cheery, chipper, cocksure, confident, doubtless, emboldened, encouraged, enthusiastic, full of hope, full of promise, hopeful, idealistic, in good heart, looking on the bright side, of good cheer, optimistic, PANGLOSSIAN, Pollyannaish, positive, sanguine, seen through rose-coloured spectacles, undoubtful, upbeat, utopian

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HOPEFUL QUOTES

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." Douglas Adams, The Long  Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

“A good laugh is sunshine in the house.” - William Makepeace Thackeray

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain,… but to add colour to my sunset sky.” - Rabindranath Tagore

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PRACTICE OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“It may sound PANGLOSSIAN, but synthetic biology is suggesting real solutions to future pandemics."

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APPRECIATION to Florian for suggesting today’s OWAD!

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Paul Smith