despair

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The feeling of having lost all hope.

   She was filled with despair when she heard the news.

2. 2
   verb

   To lose all hope; to feel that nothing will get better.

   Don't despair, things will improve soon.

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”).

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