Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “optimistically” come from?

Optimistically derives from English optimist, French -ique, Latin -icus, and Proto-Indo-European -kos and dew-, ultimately from a root meaning to seem or appear.

optimistically (English): In an optimistic manner

Definitions

  1. In an optimistic manner

Ancestry of “optimistically”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoptimisticExpecting the best in all possible ways; Allowing...
2EnglishOptimistA small centre-board sailing dinghy designed to...
3Frenchoptimisteoptimist; optimistic
4Frenchoptimismeoptimism
5Latinoptimusbest; very good
6LatinOpsearth goddess, fertility deity
7Latinoscenany bird by whose song cries augurs divined...
8Latinopscen—
9Latinob-towards; against
10Latinobolusobolus
11Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
12Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
13Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
14Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
15Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →