despond

n. [ L. dispondeus, Gr. &unr_;; di- = di`s- twice + &unr_; spondee. ] (Gr. &unr_; Lat. Pros.) A double spondee; a foot consisting of four long syllables. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Despondency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The slough of despond. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding. ] [ L. despondēre, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spondēre to promise solemnly. See Sponsor. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I should despair, or at least despond. Scott's Letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others depress their own minds, [ and ] despond at the first difficulty. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Despondency. [ 1913 Webster ]

The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness [ and ] saunter about with looks of despondence. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of desponding; loss of hope and cessation of effort; discouragement; depression or dejection of the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The unhappy prince seemed, during some days, to be sunk in despondency. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. despondens, -entis, p. pr. of despondēre. ] Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner. -- De*spond"ent*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One who desponds. [ 1913 Webster ]