Main Entry: ¹de·spair

Pronunciation: \di-ˈsper\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English despeiren, from Anglo-French desperer, from Latin desperare, from de- + sperare to hope; akin to Latin spes hope — more at speed

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb : to lose all hope or confidence <despair of winning>transitive verb obsolete : to lose hope for

— de·spair·er noun