WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*spond"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [L. despond, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spond to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.]
Definition : Defn: To give up, the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view. I should despair, or at least despond. Scott's Letters. Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first difficulty. Locke. We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that foundations of our national power still stand strong. D. Webster.

Syn. -- Despond, Dispair. Despair implies a total loss of hope, which despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to violent action.

i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : De*spond" n.
Definition : Defn: Despondency. [Obs.] The slough of despond. Bunyan.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913