Word of the Day: POLLYANNA

Playing the Glad Game in trying times

Pollyanna (noun) - someone who shows extreme optimism and cheerfulness; a blindly or unjustifiably optimistic person [pol-ee-an-uh]

• Pollyannaish means foolishly optimistic (also pollyanna or Pollyannish)

• Pollyannaism is the cultivation or presentation of an overly optimistic and cheerful personality

BREAKDOWN: Pollyanna Whittier is the title character of 1913 children's classic by American author Eleanor Porter. This eleven-year-old orphan portrayed robust optimism and good cheer even in the face of great adversity. While the term pollyanna today implies blind cheerfulness and naivete, the "The Glad Girl," as the original Pollyanna was known, showed resilience and good sense.

“It takes courage to believe the best is yet to come, especially when you are flat on your back and don’t know if you’re going to see tomorrow. I’m no Pollyanna, but I believe optimism is a choice — a muscle that gets stronger with use. Right foot, left foot…just keep moving.” —Robin Roberts

[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]