Search Result for "despair": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. a state in which all hope is lost or absent;
- Example: "in the depths of despair"
- Example: "they were rescued from despair at the last minute"
- Example: "courage born of desperation"
[syn: despair, desperation]

2. the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well;
- Example: "they moaned in despair and dismay"
- Example: "one harsh word would send her into the depths of despair"


VERB (1)

1. abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart;
- Example: "Don't despair--help is on the way!"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Despair \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.
   [1913 Webster]

         We despaired even of life.               --2 Cor. i. 8.
   [1913 Webster]

         Never despair of God's blessings here.   --Wake.

   Syn: See Despond.
        [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Despair \De*spair"\, v. t.
   1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
      [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            I would not despair the greatest design that could
            be attempted.                         --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To cause to despair. [Obs.] --Sir W. Williams.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Despair \De*spair"\, n. [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.]
   1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
      [1913 Webster]

            We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro,
            Pine with regret, or sicken with despair. --Keble.
      [1913 Webster]

            Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were
            interrupted by fits of remorse and despair.
                                                  --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which is despaired of. "The mere despair of surgery
      he cures." --Shak.

   Syn: Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

despair
    n 1: a state in which all hope is lost or absent; "in the depths
         of despair"; "they were rescued from despair at the last
         minute"; "courage born of desperation" [syn: despair,
         desperation]
    2: the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn
       out well; "they moaned in despair and dismay"; "one harsh
       word would send her into the depths of despair" [ant: hope]
    v 1: abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart; "Don't despair--
         help is on the way!" [ant: hope]