De*spair" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despairing.] [OE. despeiren, dispeiren, OF. desperer, fr. L. desperare; de- + sperare to hope; akin to spes hope, and perh. to spatium space, E. space, speed; cf. OF. espeir hope, F. espoir. Cf. Prosper, Desperate.]
To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation; -- often with of.
We despaired even of life.
2 Cor. i. 8.
Never despair of God's blessings here.
Wake.
Syn. -- See Despond.
© Webster 1913.
De*spair", v. t.
1.
To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
[Obs.]
I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.
Milton.
2.
To cause to despair.
[Obs.]
Sir W. Williams.
© Webster 1913.
De*spair", n. [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.]
1.
Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro,
Pine with regret, or sicken with despair.
Keble.
Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of remorse and despair.
Macaulay.
2.
That which is despaired of.
"The mere
despair of surgery he cures."
Shak.
Syn. -- Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.
© Webster 1913.