PESSIMISM


Meaning of PESSIMISM in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈpe-sə-ˌmi-zəm also ]

ˈpe-zə- noun

Etymology: French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus worst — more at pejorative

Date: 1815

1. : an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome

2.

a. : the doctrine that reality is essentially evil

b. : the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life

• pes·si·mist -mist noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.