The word “ameliorate,” meaning “to make better or more tolerable,” has been in English since the 1500s, and it was likely the inspiration for the word “meliorism,” which popped up in writing around the late 19th century. It comes from the Latin “melior,” meaning “better.” “Meliorism” means “the belief that the world can be made better by human effort.” This philosophical term is a worthy viewpoint to hold on to — the thought that our actions, no matter how small or big, can have a positive impact upon the world.