Etymology From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).
1
Obsolete To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC:
I sometimes despair of getting anything quite simple and honest done in this world by the help of men.1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:
2
To cause to despair.
Thinking of what I was despairing about despaired me further2019, Tim Dee, Landfill:
3
To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.
We despaired even of life.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 1:8:
Etymology From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).
1
Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
He turned around in despair, aware that he was not going to survive.