Today's Word "Sanguine"
Published in Vocabulary
sanguine \SAENG-gwin or SAENG-win\ (adjective) - The meaning of today's word has come a long way over the years. First, it meant "bloody," i.e. involving blood or the color of blood (ruddy). From this sense it shifted to "cheery, courageous, hopeful," the disposition effected by the medieval humor, blood (of the four: blood, phlegm, choler, and black bile, believed in the middle ages to control one's personality), and, finally, today it means simply "hopeful, optimistic."
"After filing for bankruptcy for the fourth time, Bill still spoke sanguinely about his financial future."
Latin sanguineus "bloody, blood-red" from sanguis "blood." Not to be confused with sanguinary "blood-thirsty," which is based on the same Latin stem as today's, much more pleasing word. The noun is "sanguinity" and the adverb "sanguinely."
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