释义 |
pessimist, n. (a.)|ˈpɛsɪmɪst| [f. as prec. + -ist; cf. F. pessimiste (1835 in Dict. Acad.).] A. n. a. One who habitually takes the worst view of things; b. One who holds the metaphysical doctrine of pessimism. Antithetical to optimist.
1836Smart, Pessimist, a complainer on all subjects, as opposed to an optimist. 1858Bailey Age 174 Holding God and man both pessimists. 1879H. Spencer Data Ethics iii. 27 The pessimist says that he condemns life because it results in more pain than pleasure. 1880Goldw. Smith in Atlantic Monthly No. 268. 202 The writer of patriotic lyrics, however melancholy is their tone, can hardly have been a consistent pessimist. B. adj. (the n. used attrib.) Characterized by pessimism; pessimistic.
1861Times 23 July, If the pessimist sentiments of hon. members who had spoken to-night [on the British Museum] were to be generally adopted. 1868G. Duff Pol. Surv. 9 [They] must have thought that I had taken a pessimist view of the situation. 1878R. J. Lloyd Pessimism (1880) 9 At the hands of the Pessimist philosophy. 1884Manch. Exam. 2 Sept. 5/2 The amusements of the people are often the theme of pessimist laments. |