despair means loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, despair ranks #1,386 of 25,264 for Qualifying, #2,308 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,328 of 14,438 for Most Storied Words, #2,350 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words.
despair is pronounced /dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)/.
Why “despair” is a great word
The complete loss or absence of hope; utter hopelessness. From Middle English *dispeir*, from Anglo-Norman *despeir* and Old French *desperer*, from Latin *dēspērāre*, from *dē-* ("without, away from") + *spērāre* ("to hope"). Displaced native Old English *ormōdnes*. Unlike "sadness," a general ache that still permits a glimmer of light, or "desperation," a frantic, active state born of despair, despair itself is the quiet, terminal verdict. It is the slackening of the shoulders when the last door is found locked, the silence after the final appeal has gone unanswered, and the hollow certainty that the story ends not with a turn, but with a full stop—the body's slow recognition that no hand will reach back.
Etymology
From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).
noun
- Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.“He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.”
- That which causes despair.
- That which is despaired of.
verb
- To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.“I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.”
- To cause to despair.“Thinking of what I was despairing about despaired me further”
- To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.“We despaired even of life.”
Words closest in meaning
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