Sanguine is an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun, sanguine. When used as an adjective, sanguine is defined as confidently optimistic and cheerful; however, when used as a noun, sanguine is defined as a moderate to strong red.
First used around the 14th and 15th centuries, sanguine derives from the Latin word sanguis (blood); other words that derive from sanguis are sangfroid (self-possession especially under strain), sanguineous (bloodthirsty), and sangria (a usually iced punch made of red wine, fruit juice, and soda water).
You may be curious how sanguine took on the definition of optimistic and cheerful when other words derived from sanguis usually have a darker connotation. Sanguine is a part of the Four Temperament Theory developed by Hippocrates, the temperaments affecting human personality traits include the four bodily fluids sanguine (blood), choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), and phlegmatic (phlegm). Those with large amounts of yellow or black bile in their system had a bad disposition, while those that were calm and slow had too much phlegm. Individuals that were strong and confident were governed by blood, hence the word sanguine developing the definition of confidently optimistic and cheerful.
Synonyms
Animated, hopeful
Sentence
Daphnee seemed sanguine about her chances of becoming the next president of her city council.
Main source
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanguine
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/sanguine-word-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_temperaments
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