DESPOND

despond

(verb) lose confidence or hope; become dejected; “The supporters of the Presidential candidate desponded when they learned the early results of the election”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

despond (third-person singular simple present desponds, present participle desponding, simple past and past participle desponded)

To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to become dejected, lose heart.

Noun

despond (uncountable)

(archaic) Despondency.

Synonyms

• despair

Source: Wiktionary


De*spond", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.] Etym: [L. despond, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spond to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.]

Definition: 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 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.

De*spond" n.

Definition: Despondency. [Obs.] The slough of despond. Bunyan.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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International Coffee Day (September 29) is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events occurring in places across the world. A day to promote fair trade coffee and raise awareness for the coffee growers’ plight. Other countries celebrate this event on October 1.

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