What does despond mean?
To despond is to lose heart — to sink into discouragement, dejection, or despair, often as a result of prolonged hardship or repeated disappointment. The word functions primarily as an intransitive verb, meaning that it takes no object: one simply desponds in the face of adversity. In contemporary English, the verb itself has grown somewhat formal and literary; most writers reach instead for its more familiar derivatives, the adjective "despondent" and the noun "despondency," which remain firmly current. A rare noun sense of "despond" survives in literary usage, denoting a state of dejection, as in the phrase "a fit of despond." The word derives from the Latin dēspondēre, "to give up or yield," formed from dē- (down, away) and spondēre (to promise), making it a cousin of such promise-related words as "sponsor" and "spouse." Its enduring value lies in capturing a quiet, gradual loss of spirit rather than dramatic grief.
To lose heart, courage, or hope; to become dejected.
"Though defeat followed defeat, the general urged his troops not to despond."
Formal and literary register; used intransitively.
A state of dejection or loss of hope.
"She fell into a deep despond after the news reached her."
Rare and chiefly literary; usually appears in phrases such as "a fit of despond" or "the depths of despond."
Very rare; the noun "despond" is almost always uncountable and appears in set phrases like "a fit of despond." A plural form would be highly unusual outside literary use.
"His life seemed a series of desponds broken by brief spells of cheer."
The Latin root of "despond" also gives us "sponsor" and "spouse" — words of promise — so to despond is literally to have your promises sink away from you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of despond
Despond comes from the Latin dēspondēre, formed from the prefix dē- (down, away) and spondēre, "to promise or pledge oneself." In Latin the verb meant to give up, renounce, or abandon, and English adopted this sense in the late sixteenth century, first in legal contexts of giving up a right before shifting toward its modern meaning of losing heart. It shares its root with "respond" and, through the same Latin verb, with "sponsor" and "spouse," all of which involve pledging or binding oneself.
Related word forms
How despond is actually used
The verb "despond" is somewhat formal and literary today; the adjective "despondent" and noun "despondency" are far more common. As a noun, "despond" (meaning dejection) exists but is rare and chiefly literary, often appearing in phrases like "a fit of despond." The verb typically takes no object and is used absolutely: one simply desponds.
Easily confused with despond
"Respond" means to reply or react, while "despond" means to lose heart; they share a Latin root but differ by the prefix de- (down) versus re- (back).