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Despair

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.

Synonym: Desperation, despondency, hopelessness.

Origin: cf. OF. Despoir, fr. Desperer.