Despair | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

De-spâir', v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. DESPAIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. DESPAIRING.] [O. Eng. despeir, dispeir, despayre, dispaire, from O. Fr. desperer, despoirer, now désespérer, to despair, O. Sp. desperar, now desesperar, It. disperare, Lat. desperare, from de and sperare, to hope. Cf. O. Fr. espeir, espoir, Pr. esper, hope, desper', without hope.] To be without hope; to give up all hope or expectation; — often followed by of.

We despaired even of life. 2 Cor. i. 8.

Never despair of God's blessings here, or of his reward hereafter. Wake.

Synonyms—See DESPOND.

De-spāir', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To be without hope of; to give up as beyond hope. [Obs.] I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted. Milton. 2. To cause to despair; to take away hope from. [Obs.] Sir R. Williams.

De-spāir', n.

noun

(4), n. [Fr. desespoir. See supra.]

Sense 1. Loss of hope; the giving up of expectation; utter hopelessness and desperation.

We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. iv. 8.

All safety in despair of safety placed. Denham.

Sense 2. That which is despaired of.

The mere despair of surgery he cures. Shak.

Synonyms—Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.