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 outcome
2 a : the doctrine that reality is essentially evil b : the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life

— pes·si·mist \-mist\ noun