/ 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
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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.