Etymology

optimize

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Today it means: To act optimistically or as an optimist. Full definition →

English optimistbf. ← French optimiste ← Latin optimus
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
  4. Latinoptimus
  5. Frenchoptim(isme)
  6. Frenchoptimiste
  7. Englishoptimistbf.
  8. English todayoptimize

Back-formation from optimist. First attested in 1844.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.