Word a Day
despair
What does despair mean?
despair (noun): a state in which all hope is lost or absent.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
How do you use despair in a sentence?
- In the depths of despair. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
- They were rescued from despair at the last minute. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
How do you pronounce despair?
/dɪˈspɛɹ/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does despair come from?
From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “despair”?
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What does “despair” mean?
an economic role for which a person is paid
Not quite: that's what job means.
systematic investigation to establish facts
Not quite: that's what research means.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
Not quite: that's what type means.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
Right! That's what “despair” means.
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