adj. & n.
adj. 1 optimistic; confident. 2 (of the complexion) florid; bright; ruddy. 3 hist. of a ruddy complexion with a courageous and hopeful amorous disposition. 4 hist. of the temperament in which blood predominates over the other humours. 5 Heraldry or literary blood red. 6 archaic bloody; bloodthirsty.
n. 1 a blood-red colour. 2 a crayon of chalk coloured red or flesh with iron oxide. sanguinely adv. sanguineness n. (both in sense 1 of n.).
[ ME f. OF sanguin -ine blood-red f. L sanguineus (as SANGUINARY) ]