Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SANGUINE
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connect this word to others:
In our minds, let's stow sanguine in an old medieval coffer along with melancholic, phlegmatic, and choleric.
Could you explain why? (If not, don't worry; I'll explain below.)
make your point with...
"SANGUINE"
This word comes from a Latin one meaning "bloody." Although "sanguine" can simply mean "bloody," it most often means "hopeful and confident in a cheerful way."
Why? According to a medieval theory, which is total hogwash, people's personalities were determined by how much of each kind of fluid they had in their bodies. People with more blood were thought to be more cheerful. Maybe because of the rosy cheeks.
Pronunciation:
SANG wun
Part of speech:
Adjective: "he's sanguine about it," "they've remained sanguine."
Other common forms:
The adverb is "sanguinely."
The noun is "sanguineness." ("Sanguinity" sounds nicer, but it's rarely used.)
When you need a formal adjective meaning "bloody" or "bloodthirsty," I suggest picking "sanguinary" instead of "sanguine."
How to use it:
Compared to the word "optimistic," our word "sanguine" is a bit more formal, and a bit rarer. So it's a great choice for emphasis and variety.
Talk about people being sanguine about some uncertain or upcoming issue, problem, or situation. "He's sanguine about the upcoming trade talks." "The odds are against her in this fight, but she remains sanguine."
Often we point out that we're not so sanguine as others, that we're less sanguine than before, that we wish we could be a little more sanguine, etc.
Though we're usually sanguine about things, we can also be sanguine that something will happen. "She's sanguine that she'll stay in control of the negotiations." "He's sanguine that his unemployment won't last long."
Lastly, although it's usually people who are sanguine, you can also talk about a sanguine tone or mood; a sanguine outlook, perspective, or attitude; a sanguine personality or temperament; or even a sanguine period of time.
examples:
"He possessed good health, a large estate, and had fine children, that equalled his most sanguine expectations. In the opinion of the world, therefore, he was a very happy man, but in his own, quite the contrary."
— Mary Hamilton, Munster Village, 1779
"Zoe: You sanguine about the kind of reception we're apt to receive on an Alliance ship, Cap'n?
Mal: Absolutely. What's sanguine mean?
Zoe: Sanguine. Hopeful. Plus, point of interest? It also means bloody.
Mal: Well, that pretty much covers all the options, don't it?"
— Joss Whedon's television series Firefly, Mutant Enemy Productions, 2002-2003
has this page helped you understand "sanguine"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "sanguine" without saying "full of good expectations" or "upbeat and confident."
try it out:
In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen wrote, "No temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself."
Talk about whether you agree or disagree with this idea. Is a sanguine expectation of happiness, in fact, happiness itself? In other words, to what extent can you experience happiness just by enjoying a sanguine attitude toward something--even if it doesn't turn out as you hoped?
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month: Anagrams!
Rearrange the letters in the given word to form a word we've studied before. Try to recall its meaning, too.
For example, if I give you DYED, you give me EDDY. If I give you THREAD, you give me DEARTH. And if I give you COTERIES, you give me ESOTERIC.
Try this one today: MACRO.
Give yourself 5 points if you can figure out the word without clues. To reveal the clues, hover over the blue text below.
Give yourself 4 points if you figure it out after peeking at the part of speech: Verb.
Give yourself 3 points if you figure it out after peeking at the definition: to smack into something and then rebound.
Give yourself 2 points if you figure it out after peeking at the first letter: C.
Give yourself 1 point if you figure it out after peeking at the first two letters: CA.
And if you'd like to reveal or review the word, click here.
review this word:
1. One opposite of SANGUINE is
A. DARING.
B. IMPAIRING.
C. DESPAIRING.
2. Those were sanguine days of _____.
A. cold winds that chapped ears
B. blue skies and endless possibilities
C. catching fireflies and dreading spelling quizzes
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
In our minds, let's stow sanguine in an old medieval coffer along with melancholic, phlegmatic, and choleric.
"SANGUINE" This word comes from a Latin one meaning "bloody." Although "sanguine" can simply mean "bloody," it most often means "hopeful and confident in a cheerful way."
"He possessed good health, a large estate, and had fine children, that equalled his most sanguine expectations. In the opinion of the world, therefore, he was a very happy man, but in his own, quite the contrary."
Explain the meaning of "sanguine" without saying "full of good expectations" or "upbeat and confident."
In Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen wrote, "No temper could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. One opposite of SANGUINE is
|