despair
verbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)//
- Canada//dɪˈspɛɚ//
- Australia//dɪˈspeː(ɹ)//
To cause to despair.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo 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.
- 2
To cause to despair.
Thinking of what I was despairing about despaired me further
- 3
To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.
We despaired even of life.
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”).
noun
- 1
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.
- 2
That which causes despair.
- 3
That which is despaired of.
Forms
- plural
- despairs
- past tense
- despaired
- past participle
- despaired
- present participle
- despairing
- third person singular
- despairs