Dictionary.com

despond

[ dih-spond or, especially for 2, des-pond ]
/ dɪˈspɒnd or, especially for 2, ˈdɛs pɒnd /
See synonyms for despond on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to be depressed by loss of hope, confidence, or courage.

noun

despondency.

QUIZZES

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In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
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Origin of despond

1670–80; <Latin dēspondēre to give up, lose heart, promise, equivalent to dē-de- + spondēre to promise

OTHER WORDS FROM despond

de·spond·er, nounde·spond·ing·ly, adverbun·de·spond·ing, adjectiveun·de·spond·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to despond

surrender, sadden, dishearten, give up, lose heart

Example sentences from the Web for despond

British Dictionary definitions for despond

despond

verb (dɪˈspɒnd)

(intr) to lose heart or hope; become disheartened; despair

noun (ˈdɛspɒnd, dɪˈspɒnd)

archaic lack of hope; despondency

Derived forms of despond

despondingly, adverb

Word Origin for despond

C17: from Latin dēspondēre to promise, make over to, yield, lose heart, from de- + spondēre to promise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012