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Webster's New World College Dictionary » pessimist
pessimist
Variant of pessimism
pessimism
definition
pes·si·mism (pes′ə miz′əm)
noun
- Philos.
- the doctrine or belief that the existing world is the worst possible
- the doctrine or belief that the evil in life outweighs the good
- the tendency to expect misfortune or the worst outcome in any circumstances; practice of looking on the dark side of things
Etymology: Fr pessimisme < L pessimus, worst, superl. of pejor, worse: see pejorative
Related Forms:
- pessimist pes′·si·mist noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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