sanguine
- 01 C1 Advanced
feeling positive and hopeful that something will be successful.
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Simple“The director is sanguine about the company's chances of success next year.”
In context“Despite the recent economic downturn, the chairman remained remarkably sanguine about the firm's long-term growth prospects.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'about'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
- 03 C2 Proficiency
an old medical term for a person who is naturally cheerful and has a red face.
relating to the 'sanguine' temperament in medieval physiology, characterized by a dominance of blood, ruddy complexion, and a courageous or hopeful nature.
Simple“In old books, a sanguine man was thought to be happy and healthy.”
In context“Medieval physicians categorized him as having a sanguine temperament, attributing his high spirits to an abundance of blood.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is historical; modern speakers only use 'sanguine' to mean optimistic.
Antonymsmelancholicphlegmatic
“But Sage is sanguine about experiencing a typically chaotic first transfer window in south London, and relieved to be able to concentrate on events on the pitch before Saturday’s trip to Fulham.”
“Oumy has starred in some films, but Garrel seems sanguine about the fact that the acting dynasty that shares his name may come to an end with his children.”
From Middle English sanguine, from Old French sanguin, ultimately from Latin sanguineus (“of blood”), from sanguis (“blood”) (of uncertain origin, but probably from Proto-Indo-European h₁sh₂-én-, from h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”), with an obscure suffix such as *-ǵʰ- (related to body parts)) + -inus + -eus. Doublet of sanguineous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.