Definitions for despairdɪˈspɛər

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

de•spair*dɪˈspɛər(n.)

  1. loss of hope; hopelessness.

  2. a source of hopelessness:

    to be the despair of one's teachers.

  3. (v.i.)to lose, give up, or be without hope:

    to despair of humanity.

  4. (v.t.)Obs. to give up hope of.

* Syn: despair , desperation , despondency refer to a state of mind caused by circumstances that seem too much to cope with. despair suggests total loss of hope, usu. accompanied by apathy and low spirits: He sank into despair after the bankruptcy. desperation is a state in which loss of hope drives a person to struggle against circumstances, with utter disregard of consequences: In desperation, they knocked down the door. despondency is a state of deep gloom due to loss of hope and a sense of futility and resignation: despondency after a serious illness.

Origin of despair:

1275–1325; < OF despoir (n.), < L dēspērāre to be without hope =dē-de - +spērāre to hope, der. of spēs hope

de•spair′er(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. despair, desperation(noun)

    a state in which all hope is lost or absent

    "in the depths of despair"; "they were rescued from despair at the last minute"; "courage born of desperation"

  2. despair(verb)

    the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well

    "they moaned in despair and dismay"; "one harsh word would send her into the depths of despair"

  3. despair(verb)

    abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart

    "Don't despair--help is on the way!"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. despair(noun)ɪˈspɛər

    a feeling of great unhappiness and hopelessness

    his despair at losing his wife; to be in despair over the political unrest

Wiktionary

  1. despair(Noun)

    Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.

    He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive

  2. despair(Noun)

    That which is despaired of.

  3. despair(Verb)

    To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.

  4. despair(Verb)

    To cause to despair.

  5. despair(Verb)

    To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Despair(verb)

    to be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation; -- often with of

  2. Despair(verb)

    to give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of

  3. Despair(verb)

    to cause to despair

  4. Despair(noun)

    loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency

  5. Despair(noun)

    that which is despaired of


Translations for despair

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

despair(noun)

the state of having given up hope

He was filled with despair at the news.

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