English
sanguine
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈsæŋ.ɡwɪn/
Adjective

sanguine

  1. (literary) Having the colour of blood; blood red. [from late 14th c.]
  2. (obsolete, physiology) Having a bodily constitution characterised by a preponderance of blood over the other bodily humours, thought to be marked by irresponsible mirth; indulgent in pleasure to the exclusion of important matters.
    • 1592, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus iv 2
      What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys!
    • 1597, William Shakespeare, 1 Hen IV ii 4
      I'll be no longer guilty of this sin; this sanguine coward, this
      bed-presser, this horse-back-breaker, this huge hill of flesh.
  3. Characterized by abundance and active circulation of blood.
    a sanguine bodily temperament
  4. Warm; ardent.
    a sanguine temper
  5. Anticipating the best; optimistic; confident; full of hope. [from early 16th c.]
    Antonyms: despondent
    • 1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers, Volume the Second, page 79 ISBN 1857150570
      It was clear that Dr. Gwynne was not very sanguine as to the effects of his journey to Barchester, and not over anxious to interfere with the bishop.
    I'm sanguine about the eventual success of the project.
  6. (archaic) Full of blood; bloody.
  7. (archaic) Bloodthirsty.
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

sanguine (plural sanguines)

  1. Blood colour; red.
     
  2. Anything of a blood-red colour, as cloth.
  3. (tincture) A tincture, seldom used, of a blood-red colour (not to be confused with murrey).
  4. Bloodstone.
  5. Red crayon.
Translations Translations Translations Verb

sanguine (sanguines, present participle sanguining; past and past participle sanguined)

  1. To stain with blood; to impart the colour of blood to; to ensanguine.
Related terms

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