despair
The definition of despair is to give up hope.
(verb)A husband mourning the loss of his wife is an example of despair.
Despair is defined as a deep sadness, or loss of hope.
(noun)Depression over a lost job is an example of despair.
See despair in Webster's New World College Dictionary
intransitive verb
Origin: ME despeiren < OFr desperer < L desperare, to be without hope < de-, without + sperare, to hope < spes, hope < IE base *spēi, to prosper, expand: see speed
transitive verb
noun
- loss of hope
- a person or thing causing despair
See despair in American Heritage Dictionary 4
intransitive verb de·spaired, de·spair·ing, de·spairs
- To lose all hope: despaired of reaching shore safely.
- To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.
- Complete loss of hope.
- One despaired of or causing despair: unmotivated students that are the despair of their teachers.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English despeiren
Origin: , from Old French desperer
Origin: , from Latin dēspērāre
Origin: : dē-, de-
Origin: + spērāre, to hope; see spē- in Indo-European roots
Origin: . N., from Middle English despeir
Origin: , from Anglo-Norman
Origin: , from Old French desperer, to despair
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