Dictionary

1despair

verb de·spair \di-ˈsper\

: to no longer have any hope or belief that a situation will improve or change

Full Definition of DESPAIR

intransitive verb
:  to lose all hope or confidence <despair of winning>
transitive verb
obsolete :  to lose hope for
de·spair·er noun
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Examples of DESPAIR

  1. Sometimes it is hard not to despair about relations between men and women in American society. They seem to have hit rock bottom. —Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002

Origin of DESPAIR

Middle English despeiren, from Anglo-French desperer, from Latin desperare, from de- + sperare to hope; akin to Latin spes hope — more at speed
First Known Use: 14th century

2despair

noun de·spair \di-ˈsper\

: the feeling of no longer having any hope

: someone or something that causes extreme sadness or worry

Full Definition of DESPAIR

1
:  utter loss of hope <a cry of despair> <gave up in despair>
2
:  a cause of hopelessness <an incorrigible child is the despair of his parents>

Examples of DESPAIR

  1. On the occasion of Johnson's tercentenary, Martin (A Life of James Boswell) searches out the psychological elements covered up by Boswell and others: the immense insecurities, bouts of deep depression, corrosive self-doubt and, in his last days, despair for his very soul. —Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2008

Origin of DESPAIR

(see 1despair)
First Known Use: 14th century
DESPAIR Defined for Kids

1despair

verb de·spair \di-ˈsper\
de·spairedde·spair·ing

Definition of DESPAIR for Kids

:  to give up or lose all hope or confidence <She began to despair of ever finding her homework paper.>

2despair

noun

Definition of DESPAIR for Kids

1
:  loss of hope :  a feeling of complete hopelessness <He finally gave up in despair.>
2
:  a cause of hopelessness

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3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Next Word in the Dictionary: despairfulPrevious Word in the Dictionary: despAll Words Near: despair
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