Panglossian en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /pænˈɡlɑsi.ən/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /pænˈɡlɔsi.ən/ (General-American)
- /pænˈɡlɒsɪən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Pangloss (a character in Voltaire's Candide) + -ian
Meanings
-
(derogatory) Naively or unreasonably optimistic.
Nadelmann assumes that the number of potential addicts wouldn’t soar under considerably more liberal drug laws. I can’t muster such Panglossian optimism.
2010, Theodore Dalrymple, Our Culture, What’s Left of It:Though he took a Panglossian view of the world in his youth, he became jaded as he grew older.
- (derogatory) Of or relating to the view that this is the best of all possible worlds.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more Panglossian | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most Panglossian | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
callow · innocent · dewy-eyed · unsophisticated · verdant · quaint · guileless · unworldly · simple-minded · green · starry-eyed · undesigning · ingenuous · clueless · jejune · artless · unpretentious · virgin · simple-hearted · Panglossian · foppotee · childlike · cute · credulous · Panglossic · born yesterday · unaffected · Pollyannaish · untested · wide-eyed · wet behind the ears · Panglossic · simple · immature · fleeceable
Translations (5)
sv panglossiansk (naively or unreasonably optimistic) · pt panglossiano (naively or unreasonably optimistic) · es panglossiano (naively or unreasonably optimistic) · de panglossisch (naively or unreasonably optimistic) · fr panglossien (naively or unreasonably optimistic)