Today's Word

Sanguine

SANG-gwin

Definition

(adjective) Optimistic or hopeful, especially in a difficult situation.

Example

Despite the company setbacks, the CEO remained sanguine about the future.

Word Origin

Middle English: from Old French sanguin(e), from Latin sanguineus ‘of blood’ — originally referring to the belief that a person’s blood temperament made them cheerful.

Fun Fact

Historically, sanguine was one of the four “humors” in ancient medicine. People with a sanguine temperament were believed to be cheerful, sociable, and energetic, thanks to an abundance of blood in their system. Today, the word is still used to describe people who remain confident and upbeat, especially when others are panicking. It’s a subtle way to say, they’re keeping it together—even when things look bleak.

Previous Words

Occlude

Today's Word

Occlude

uh-KLOOD

Definition

(verb) To block, close off, or obstruct something so it cannot pass through.

Example

During the storm, fallen branches occluded the narrow trail, making it impossible to pass.

Word Origin

Occlude comes from the Latin occludere, meaning “to shut up” or “to close off.” The root is formed from ob- (“toward”) and claudere (“to close”), giving the sense of something being sealed or blocked firmly and completely.

Fun Fact

In dentistry, the word occlusion describes the way your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite down. Proper alignment allows food to be chewed efficiently, but even a small shift in tooth position can occlude the natural bite pattern. This is why orthodontists study tiny millimeter-level changes—they can dramatically affect speech, chewing, and jaw comfort. The same idea appears in science and engineering: even a minor obstruction can completely alter how a system flows.

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Sanguine

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Occlude

Occlude

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Occlude

Fulsome

Despot

Raucous

Solipsistic