01 v. i. To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an …
imp. & p. p.
Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desponding
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1.
To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view.“I should despair, or at least despond.” — Scott's Letters.“Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first difficulty.” — Locke.“We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that the foundations of our national power still stand strong.” — D. Webster.
Syn.
Despond, Dispair.
Despair implies a total loss of hope, which despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to violent action.