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