English

Adjective

sanguine ‎(comparative more sanguine, superlative most sanguine)

1. Having the colour of blood; red.
2. (obsolete, physiology) Having a bodily constitution characterised by a preponderance of blood over the other bodily humours, thought to be marked by irresponsible mirth; indulgent in pleasure to the exclusion of important matters.
   • 1592 — Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus iv 2

     What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys!

   • 1597 — Shakespeare, 1 Hen IV ii 4

     I'll be no longer guilty of this sin; this sanguine coward, this

     bed-presser, this horse-back-breaker, this huge hill of flesh.

3. Characterized by abundance and active circulation of blood.

   a sanguine bodily temperament

4. Warm; ardent.

   a sanguine temper

5. Anticipating the best; optimistic; not despondent; confident; full of hope.
   • 1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers, Volume the Second, page 79 (ISBN 1857150570)

     It was clear that Dr. Gwynne was not very sanguine as to the effects of his journey to Barchester, and not over anxious to interfere with the bishop.

   sanguine of success

Usage notes

Not to be confused with sanguinary.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• gloomy
• pessimistic
• blue

Related terms

• sanguinary
• sanguinity
• sanguineness

Translations

Noun

sanguine ‎(plural sanguines)

1. Blood colour; red.

   sanguine colour:

2. Anything of a blood-red colour, as cloth.
3. (heraldry) A tincture, seldom used, of a blood-red colour (not to be confused with murrey).
4. Bloodstone.
5. Red crayon. See the Note under crayon, 1.

Translations

Verb

sanguine ‎(third-person singular simple present sanguines, present participle sanguining, simple past and past participle sanguined)

1. To stain with blood; to impart the colour of blood to; to ensanguine.

Related terms

• sangaree
• sangria
• exsanguinate

See also

• (reds) red; blood red, brick red, burgundy, cardinal, carmine, carnation, cerise, cherry, cherry red, Chinese red, cinnabar, claret, crimson, damask, fire brick, fire engine red, flame, flamingo, fuchsia, garnet, geranium, gules, hot pink, incarnadine, Indian red, magenta, maroon, misty rose, nacarat, oxblood, pillar-box red, pink, Pompeian red, poppy, raspberry, red violet, rose, rouge, ruby, ruddy, salmon, sanguine, scarlet, shocking pink, stammel, strawberry, Turkey red, Venetian red, vermillion, vinaceous, vinous, violet red, wine ^{(Category: en:Reds)}

Anagrams

• guanines
• Guineans

French

Noun

sanguine f ‎(plural sanguines)

1. (heraldry) A tincture, seldom used, of a blood-red colour (not to be confused with murrey, which is mûre in French).

Adjective

sanguine

1. feminine singular of sanguin

Interlingua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsaŋ.ɡwi.ne/

Noun

sanguine ‎(uncountable)

1. blood

Latin

Noun

sanguine

1. ablative singular of sanguis