despond
English
editEtymology
editFrom 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
editdespond (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
editto give up the will, courage, or spirit
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Noun
editdespond (uncountable)