Main Entry:

pes·si·mism

Pronunciation:

\ˈpe-sə-ˌmi-zəm also ˈpe-zə-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus worst — more at pejorative

Date:

1815

1: an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome2 a: the doctrine that reality is essentially evil b: the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life

— pes·si·mist \-mist\ noun