sanguine
SANG-gwin
/ˈsæŋɡwɪn/
Cheerfully optimistic, confident, or hopeful, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Implies a natural, resilient, or naturally warm confidence in the face of adversity.
The story behind the word. In medieval physiology, body fluids (humors) dictated personality. An abundance of blood ('sanguis') was believed to make a person ruddy-faced, warm, confident, and inherently cheerful.
Word relationships
- buoyant: Buoyant emphasizes lighthearted resilience, while sanguine emphasizes deep-seated confidence and ruddy vigor.
- confident: Confident means feeling sure, whereas sanguine combines assurance with a cheerful disposition.
- despondent: Despondent implies a complete loss of hope and courage.
- gloomy: Gloomy describes dark, low-spirited despair.
Commonly confused with
- sanguinary: Sanguine means optimistic, whereas sanguinary means bloodthirsty or involving bloodshed.
Word family
- sanguineness (noun): The quality of being cheerful and optimistic.
- sanguinely (adverb): In a cheerful and confident manner.
Collocations
- sanguine disposition
- sanguine about prospects
- remained sanguine
Idioms & expressions
- blood is warm
- warm-blooded enthusiasm
Example sentences
- "Investors remained sanguine about market recovery despite the quarter's unexpected losses." Financial Journalism
- "He was a sanguine man, of a full habit, and a temperament that loved warmth and good food." Classic Literature
Memory hook
Sanguine sounds like 'penguin' standing happily in freezing cold blood-pumping weather. Red blood warmth equals natural cheer.
When not to use
Avoid using it merely to mean 'happy'; it specifically implies confidence despite surrounding troubles.
Fun facts
- In medieval medicine, a sanguine personality was considered the healthiest of the four temperaments.
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