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Definition of pollyanna - 4 dictionary results

Pol⋅ly⋅an⋅na

  [pol-ee-an-uh]
Use pollyanna in a Sentence
–noun
1. an excessively or blindly optimistic person.
–adjective
2. (often lowercase) Also, Pol⋅ly⋅an⋅na⋅ish. unreasonably or illogically optimistic: some pollyanna notions about world peace.
Origin:
from the name of the child heroine created by Eleanor Porter (1868–1920), American writer

Related forms:
Pol⋅ly⋅an⋅na⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Pol·ly·an·na   (pŏl'ē-ān'ə)   
n.  A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic.

[After the heroine of the novel Pollyanna, by Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868-1920), American writer.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Pollyanna

(1913) A children's book by the American author Eleanor H. Porter. The title character is an orphan girl who, despite the difficulties of her life, is always extremely cheerful.

Note: A “Pollyanna” remains excessively sweet-tempered and optimistic even in adversity.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Pollyanna 
"one who finds cause for gladness in the most difficult situations," 1921, in allusion to Pollyanna Whittier, child heroine of U.S. novelist Eleanor Hodgman Porter's "Pollyanna" (1913) and "Pollyanna Grows Up" (1915), noted for keeping her chin up during disasters.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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