[di-spond or, especially for 2, des-pond] 
| 1. | to be depressed by loss of hope, confidence, or courage. |
| 2. | despondency. |
| de·spond (dĭ-spŏnd') intr.v. de·spond·ed, de·spond·ing, de·sponds To become disheartened or discouraged. n. Despondency: "The outward show of fight masked a spreading inner despond at the White House" (Newsweek). [Latin dēspondēre, to give up : dē-, de- + spondēre, to promise; see spend- in Indo-European roots.] de·spond'ing·ly adv. |
