despond

English edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

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

Verb edit

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

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[wnsham] and J[ohn] 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 edit

to give up the will, courage, or spirit

Bulgarian: падам духом (padam duhom)
French: se décourager
German: verzagen (de)
Greek:
Ancient: ἀθυμέω (athuméō)
Hungarian: csügged (hu), elcsügged (hu)
Portuguese: desesperar-se
Turkish: bedbin olmak (tr), umut kesmek (tr), ümidini kaybetmek

Noun edit

despond (uncountable)

(archaic) Despondency.