I. di-ˈsper verb
Etymology: Middle English despeiren, from Anglo-French desperer, from Latin desperare, from de- + sperare to hope; akin to Latin spes hope — more at speed
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
: to lose all hope or confidence
despair of winning
transitive verb
obsolete : to lose hope for
• de·spair·er noun
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : utter loss of hope
a cry of despair
gave up in despair
2. : a cause of hopelessness
an incorrigible child is the despair of his parents