To lose hope, become discouraged, or feel sad and hopeless about something.
From Latin 'despondere' (to lose courage), combining 'de-' (away) and 'spondere' (to promise or pledge). Originally meant to give up one's trust, and evolved to mean losing hope entirely.
Despond is rare in modern English, but Bunyan's *Pilgrim's Progress* features 'the Slough of Despond'—a swamp representing depression—which made the word iconic in describing spiritual and emotional darkness.
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