despair

Etymology

From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin despero, desperare), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).

verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
2. (transitive) To cause to despair.
   Thinking of what I was despairing about despaired me further 2019, Tim Dee, Landfill
3. (intransitive, often with “of”) To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.

noun

1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
   He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive
2. That which causes despair.
3. That which is despaired of.