pessimize

English

WOTD – 8 July 2019

Etymology

From Latin pessimus (“worst”) +‎ -ize, modelled after optimize.[1] Pessimus is derived from Proto-Indo-European *ped-tm̥mó-s, from *ped- (“to step, walk; to fall, stumble”) + *-tm̥mó-s (superlative suffix).

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛsɪmaɪz/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛsəˌmaɪz/
Hyphenation: pes‧sim‧ize

Verb

pessimize (third-person singular simple present pessimizes, present participle pessimizing, simple past and past participle pessimized)

(transitive) To take a pessimistic view of; to speak of in a negative or pessimistic way.
Antonym: optimize
(transitive) To make (something) pessimal or the worst; (in a weaker sense) to make (something, such as a computer program) less efficient.
Antonym: optimize
(intransitive) To think like a pessimist; to believe the worst.
Antonym: optimize

(Can we find and add a quotation of London Sat. Rev to this entry?)
(intransitive) To become pessimal or the worst.
Antonym: optimize

Alternative forms

pessimise (Britain, Commonwealth of Nations)

Related terms

Translations

to take a pessimistic view of; to speak of in a pessimistic way

to make (something) pessimal or the worst

to think like a pessimist

to become pessimal or the worst

References

“pessimize, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2005; “pessimize” (US) / “pessimize” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.

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[1] “pessimize, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2005; “pessimize” (US) / “pessimize” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.