Despair Definition

dĭ-spâr
despaired, despairs
verb
despaired, despairs
To lose hope; be without hope.
Webster's New World
To give up hope of.
Webster's New World
To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
noun
despairs
Loss of hope.
Webster's New World
A person or thing causing despair.
Webster's New World
Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.
Wiktionary
That which is despaired of.
Wiktionary

Origin of Despair

  • Middle English despeiren from Old French desperer from Latin dēspērāre dē- de- spērāre to hope spē- in Indo-European roots N., from Middle English despeir from Anglo-Norman from Old French desperer to despair

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Anglo-Norman despeir, from Old French desperer.

    From Wiktionary

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