despair
noun
- emotion
verb
- to give up hope
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)/ / /dɪˈspɛɚ/ / /dɪˈspeː(ɹ)/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).
- Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
“He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.”
“My daughter's behavior drives me to despair.”
- That which causes despair.
- That which is despaired of.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).
- To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
“I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.”
“I sometimes despair of getting anything quite simple and honest done in this world by the help of men.”
- To cause to despair.
“Thinking of what I was despairing about despaired me further”
- To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.
“We despaired even of life.”