despond

[dih-spond or especially for 2, des-pond]

verb (used without object)

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

noun

despondency.

RELATED WORDS

surrender, sadden, dishearten

Nearby words

Origin of despond

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

Related formsde·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for desponding

But you, my dear Frankenstein, wherefore are you desponding and sorrowful?
Frankenstein|Mary Shelley
We all felt wonderfully refreshed, and hope revived in the hearts of the most desponding.
The Cruise of the Mary Rose|William H. G. Kingston
The Christmas Chorale sung in the refreshing mountain air wonderfully invigorated their desponding spirits.
Musical Myths and Facts, Volume II (of 2)|Carl Engel
Poor Grummidge had evidently been brought very low, for his once manly voice was weak and his tones were desponding.
The Crew of the Water Wagtail|R.M. Ballantyne

The walk certainly was wettish, and as I had had nothing to eat or drink since my midday meal, I was miserable and desponding.
The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford|Mark Rutherford

British Dictionary definitions for desponding

despond

verb (dɪˈspɒnd)

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

noun (ˈdɛspɒnd, dɪˈspɒnd)

archaic lack of hope; despondency

Derived Formsdespondingly, 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