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.

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. 2018

Related Words for desponding

surrender, sadden, dishearten

Examples from the Web for desponding

Historical Examples of desponding

“If I could do such and such a thing,” sighs the desponding youth.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
"I am sorry to say I have not," was poor Jacob's reply, in a desponding voice.
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXII No. 4, April 1848
Various
"I can do no more, Sir John," he muttered in a desponding voice.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini
In the darkest days he was able to cheer and encourage the desponding.
Charles Carleton Coffin
William Elliot Griffis, D. D.
There is a desponding melancholy in the run of the last line!
Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787)
William Wagstaffe

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