Pangloss
[PAN-glahs]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Proper name, 18th century
1.
A person who is optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
Examples of Pangloss in a sentence
"As the storm soaked through our tent, my Pangloss of a husband suggested it was a chance to test our waterproof sleeping bags."
"When our flight was delayed, the Pangloss in line in front of me cheered for the opportunity to get some time to read the news."
About Pangloss
“Pangloss” is taken from “Doctor Pangloss,” a character created by 18th-century French writer Voltaire.
Did you Know?
In Voltaire’s 1759 satire “Candide, or Optimism,” the French Enlightenment writer and thinker introduced the character of Doctor Pangloss. Pangloss is the living embodiment of the optimistic theory that this is the best of all possible worlds. Voltaire created Pangloss to satirize the risks of excessive optimism. This made “Pangloss” a critical term for someone who maintains optimism regardless of how dire circumstances may become.
