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despond. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
despond, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
despond in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From Latin dēspondeō (“give up, abandon”), from dē (“from”) + spondeō (“promise”).
Pronunciation
Verb
despond (third-person singular simple present desponds, present participle desponding, simple past and past participle desponded)
- (intransitive) To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to become dejected, lose heart.
1867, John Conington, Aeneid, translation of original by Virgil, page 176:Yet still despond not, but proceed
Along the path where fate may lead.
- October 16, 1820, Thomas Scott, letter to the Rev. G. Knight, Harwell
- I should despair, or at least despond.
a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: , London: A and J Churchill, , published 1706, →OCLC:Others depress their own minds, despond at the first difficulty.
- June 17, 1825, Daniel Webster, Speech on the laying of the Corner Stone of the Bunker Hill Monument
- We wish that desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that foundations of our national power still stand strong.
Derived terms
Translations
to give up the will, courage, or spirit
Noun
despond (uncountable)
- (archaic) Despondency.
- Synonyms: despair, desperation; see also Thesaurus:hopelessness
Anagrams