DESPAIR


Meaning of DESPAIR in English

/ dɪˈspeə(r); NAmE dɪˈsper/ noun , verb

■ noun

[ U ] the feeling of having lost all hope :

She uttered a cry of despair.

A deep sense of despair overwhelmed him.

He gave up the struggle in despair .

One harsh word would send her into the depths of despair .

Eventually, driven to despair , he threw himself under a train.

—see also desperate

IDIOMS

- be the despair of sb

—more at counsel noun

■ verb

[ v ] despair (of sth/sb) | despair (of doing sth) to stop having any hope that a situation will change or improve :

Don't despair! We'll think of a way out of this.

They'd almost despaired of ever having children.

I despair of him; he can't keep a job for more than six months.

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WORD ORIGIN

Middle English : the noun via Anglo-Norman French from Old French desespeir ; the verb from Old French desperer , from Latin desperare , from de- down from + sperare to hope.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.