despondency
or de·spond·ence
- state of being despondent; depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope; dejection.
Origin of despondency
Synonyms for despondency
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Antonyms for despondency
Related Words for despondence
gloom, melancholy, desperation, glumness, despondency, dejection, blues, hopelessness, discouragement, depression, unhappiness, gloominess, desperateness, despondExamples from the Web for despondence
Historical Examples of despondence
I smiled at the despondence in her tone as I extinguished the kerosene lamp-light.
Some Everyday Folk and DawnMiles Franklin
Gloom, silence, and despondence seemed every where to prevail.
The Eve of All-Hallows, v. 2 of 3Matthew Weld Hartstonge
To stupify us into despondence, that destruction may certainly seize us?
Out of this mood of despondence I had to lift myself by an act of will.
Under the Prophet in UtahFrank J. Cannon and Harvey J. O'Higgins
Of these there was no trace in her eyes, only apathy, weariness, despondence.
PerlycrossR. D. Blackmore
Word Origin and History for despondence
1670s, from Latin despondere "to give up, lose, lose heart, resign, to promise in marriage" (especially in phrase animam despondere, literally "give up one's soul"), from the sense of a promise to give something away, from de- "away" (see de-) + spondere "to promise" (see spondee). A condition more severe than despair.
despondency
1650s; see despondence + -cy.