pessimism
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English
Etymology
From French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus (“worst”) + -ism, superlative of malus (“bad”). As a doctrine, from German Pessimismus as used by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer in 1819.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpɛsɪmɪzəm/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
pessimism (usually uncountable, plural pessimisms)
- A general belief that bad things will happen.
- Hyponym: declinism
- 2017 January 19, Peter Bradshaw, “T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn't disappoint”, in The Guardian:
- T2 isn’t as good as T1: it is a little too long and unwinds a bit into caper sentimentality, broad comedy and self-mythologising. But it has the same punchy energy, the same defiant pessimism, and there’s nothing around like it. This sequel was a high-wire act, but Boyle has made it to the other side.
- The doctrine that this world is the worst of all possible worlds.
- (computing) The condition of being pessimal.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
general belief that bad things will happen
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doctrine that this world is the worst of all possible worlds
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Further reading
- “pessimism”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “pessimism”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “pessimism”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Swedish
Noun
pessimism c
Declension
Declension of pessimism
| nominative | genitive | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | indefinite | pessimism | pessimisms |
| definite | pessimismen | pessimismens | |
| plural | indefinite | — | — |
| definite | — | — | |