despair
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de·spair
(dĭ-spâr′)intr.v. de·spaired, de·spair·ing, de·spairs
1. To lose all hope: despaired of reaching shore safely.
2. To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.
n.
1. Complete loss of hope.
2. One despaired of or causing despair: unmotivated students that are the despair of their teachers.
[Middle English despeiren, from Old French desperer, from Latin dēspērāre : dē-, de- + spērāre, to hope; see spē- in Indo-European roots. N., from Middle English despeir, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French desperer, to despair.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
despair
(dɪˈspɛə)vb
1. (often foll by: of) to lose or give up hope: I despair of his coming.
2. (tr) obsolete to give up hope of; lose hope in
n
3. (Psychology) total loss of hope
4. a person or thing that causes hopelessness or for which there is no hope
[C14: from Old French despoir hopelessness, from desperer to despair, from Latin dēspērāre, from de- + spērāre to hope]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•spair
(dɪˈspɛər)n.
1. loss of hope; hopelessness.
2. a source of hopelessness: to be the despair of one's teachers.
v.i. 3. to lose, give up, or be without hope: to despair of humanity.
v.t. 4. Obs. to give up hope of.
[1275–1325; < Old French despoir (n.), < Latin dēspērāre to be without hope =dē- de- + spērāre to hope, derivative of spēs hope]
de•spair′er, n.
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.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
despair
Past participle: despaired
Gerund: despairing
| Imperative |
|---|
| despair |
| despair |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  despair - 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 - 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" feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" hopelessness - the despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of comfort or success resignation, surrender - acceptance of despair pessimism - the feeling that things will turn out badly hope - the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled; "in spite of his troubles he never gave up hope" | |
| Verb | 1. | despair - abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart; "Don't despair--help is on the way!" despond - lose confidence or hope; become dejected; "The supporters of the Presidential candidate desponded when they learned the early results of the election" hope - be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes; "I am still hoping that all will turn out well" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
despair
noun
1. despondency, depression, misery, gloom, desperation, anguish, melancholy, hopelessness, dejection, wretchedness, disheartenment She shook her head in despair at the futility of it all.
verb
1. lose hope, give up, be discouraged, be pessimistic, lose heart, be despondent, be dejected, be demoralized, resign yourself, look on the black side He despairs at much of the press criticism.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
despair
verbnounUtter lack of hope:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
despair
[dɪsˈpɛəʳ]A. N
B. VI → perder la esperanza, desesperarse
to despair of sth → perder la esperanza de algo
we despaired of ever seeing her again → perdimos la esperanza de volver a verla
don't despair! → ¡ánimo!, ¡anímate!
to despair of sth → perder la esperanza de algo
we despaired of ever seeing her again → perdimos la esperanza de volver a verla
don't despair! → ¡ánimo!, ¡anímate!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
despair
(diˈspeə) verb to lose hope (of). I despair of ever teaching my son anything.desesperar, perder la esperanza
noun1. the state of having given up hope. He was filled with despair at the news. deseperación
2. (with the) something which causes someone to despair. He is the despair of his mother.desesperación
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
despair
→ desesperaciónMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
despair
n. desesperación;
vt. [to lose hope] perder la esperanza; desesperarse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
despair
n desesperación f, desesperanzaEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.