a feeling of great hopelessness and lack of hope for the future
The failure of the crops filled the farmers with despair.
She sank into despair after losing her job.
✦ From Middle English despair, despoir, from Old French despoir, from Latin dēsspērāre, present active infinitive of dēsspērō (“to be without hope, despair of”), from dē- (“away”) + spērō (“to hope”).
to lose all hope and confidence; to give up hope
Don't despair; better times are coming.
She began to despair after months without contact.
✦ From Middle English despairen, despoiren, from Old French desperer, from Latin dēsspērāre, present active infinitive of dēsspērō.
