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despondence

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅spond⋅en⋅cy

  [di-spon-duhn-see]
Use despondence in a Sentence
–noun
state of being despondent; depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope; dejection.
Also, de⋅spond⋅ence.

Origin:
1645–55; despond + -ency

Synonyms:
melancholy, gloom. See despair.

Antonyms:
joy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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de·spon·dence   (dĭ-spŏn'dəns)   
n.  Despondency.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

despondence 
1676, from L. despondere "to give up, lose, lose heart, resign" (especially in phrase animam despondere, lit. "give up one's soul"), from the sense of a promise to give something away, from de- "away" + spondere "to promise" (see spondee). A step above despair.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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