Editing Hope (section)

{{short description|Optimistic state of mind}}
{{About|the emotion}}
[[File:Hopeful.jpg|thumbnail|262px|A [[Syrian refugee]] girl with a hopeful expression]]
{{emotion}}
'''Hope''' is an [[Optimism|optimistic]] [[Mental state|state of mind]] that is based on an [[wikt:expectation|expectation]] of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large.<ref name=":1">
{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hope |title=Hope &#124; Define Hope at Dictionary.com |publisher=Dictionary.reference.com |date=1992-11-27 |access-date=2012-10-02}}</ref> As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confidence" or "to cherish a [[desire]] with anticipation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope |title=Hope – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary |publisher=Merriam-webster.com |access-date=2012-10-02}}</ref>

Among its opposites are dejection, [[Hopelessness scale|hopelessness]], and [[Depression (mood)|despair]].<ref>B. Kirkpatrick ed., ''Roget's Thesaurus'' (1995) pp.  852–3</ref>

Hope finds expression through many dimensions of human life, including practical [[reasoning]], the religious [[Hope (virtue)|virtue of hope]], legal doctrine, and literature, alongside cultural and mythological aspects.