despond

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English

Etymology

From Latin dēspondeō (“give up, abandon”), from dē (“from”) +‎ spondeō (“promise”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɪˈspɒnd/
    • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • (rare, noun usage) IPA(key): /ˈdɛspɒnd/
  • Hyphenation: de‧spond
  • Rhymes: -ɒnd

Verb

despond (third-person singular simple present desponds, present participle desponding, simple past and past participle desponded)

  1. 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, [and] 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.

Translations

Noun

despond (uncountable)

  1. (archaic) Despondency.

Synonyms

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