despair

Everyday

1. The feeling of having lost all hope. tree →
2. (verb) To lose hope: «Don't despair — we'll find your cat.» tree →
3. (phrase) «Drive someone to despair» or «be the despair of someone» means make them feel hopeless and worried. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, despair is the low point before something changes: Toad in his dungeon «flung himself at full length on the floor, and shed bitter tears, and abandoned himself to dark despair». In PSHE, if you feel hopeless, it is important to talk to someone you trust. Christians believe that God's love gives hope even in despair. Phrases: «in despair», «despair of».

Examples

• Toad lay in his dungeon in despair. tree →
• Don't despair — you can try again tomorrow. tree →
• She shook her head in despair at the mess. tree →
• The teacher despaired of ever getting the class quiet. tree →
• After the storm, the farmers were in despair. tree →
• His messy room is the despair of his mum. tree →
• I do not despair of the future. tree →

Note

Uncountable noun. Adjective despairing; related word desperate. «Despair of» means «lose hope about». Spelling: des-pair.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Ecclesiastes shows a mind weary of toil. Tradition reads the book as asking what lasting value human labor has. In the primary lessons: In stories, despair is the low point before something changes: Toad in his dungeon «flung himself at full length on the floor, and shed bitter tears, and abandoned himself to dark despair». In PSHE, if you feel hopeless, it is important to talk to someone you trust. Christians believe that God's love gives hope even in despair. Phrases: «in despair», «despair of».

Examples

• When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid; by reason of despair they are beside themselves. (Writings JOB.41.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour wherein I had laboured under the sun. (Writings ECC.2.20, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable noun. Adjective despairing; related word desperate. «Despair of» means «lose hope about». Spelling: des-pair.