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despair

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Despair

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 verbobsolete : to lose hope for

— de·spair·er noun

Learn more about "despair" and related topics at Britannica.com

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