Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆speir n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆speir n. Also despair, despare & dispeir, dispair, dispere. |
| Etymology | AF despeir (CF despoir). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A feeling of hopelessness, lack of hope or confidence, despair; ben in ~ of, to despair of (life, mercy, etc.); fallen in ~, lose hope; putten in ~, give (sth.) up as hopeless or lost.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2137 : Þan were þys lordes glad..Þat þay hadden founde þore þe relyqes..For whicche þay hadde þar byfore ben in gret dispayre.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1245 : I, that am exiled and bareyne Of alle grace, and in so greet despeir.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3474 : This Nicholas..euere caped vpward into the eyr. This carpenter wende he were in despeyr.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.693 : Now comth wanhope, that is despeir of the mercy of god.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)278 : Hope is ȝolde aȝeyn To hem þat hedde dispeir.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)284/33 : If his vertu be feble..& þou hast dispeir of him.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)prol.2/20 : Þe grettest peyne þat þei hadden was dispeyr of forȝeuenesse of hure synne.
- c1400 Bible SNT(2) (Dc 250)1 John 5.16 : Endynge in dispeyre, þat is wanhope.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.919 : Anoon Dispeir..cauȝte hym by þe herte.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Cmb Gg.5.31)p.170 : No man in dyspayr thar be..Haue thai done neuer swilke foly, If they wyll call on oure Lauedy.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.813 : What? sholde he therfore fallen in dispayr..Or slen hymself, al be his lady fair?
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.132 : Crist apperide unto Marye Magdalene..to put hir fro dispeire of hir first synnes.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)682 : A-gaynes þe fayth is mystrowynge, Agaynes hope despayre I fynde.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2557 : She for dispeyr fordide hyreself, allas!
- (1432) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxviii : For dispair of myn awne lyf..I saide many thynges as thay wolde have me to saye.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)17/29 : Thay ware nerehand in dispeire for to wyn þe citee.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)143 : Grete sorewe for þe losse of alle þo joies..passyng dispeire of eny releef.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4850 : Þis blessud virgyn..comford hem..þat þey shulde not falle in to no dispere [rime: were].
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2991 : God, kepe me fro dyspayr!
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)527 : Scho was in dyspayr any barn to beyre for eld.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)2/6 : Þis..monke began to fall in a despare.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)194/6 : Hym happend for to fall seke, & was in despayr of lechecrafte.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)17/35 : Men þat ben þus turmentid..by passioun of malencoly..ofte tymes falle in dispeir, and at þe laste sle hem silf.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.61 : Varro..was commendede of þe senate that he putte not the commune vtilite in despeire [L quod rempublicam non desperasset].
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)6.9 : Swa that na synful man fall in dispaire.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)13/8 : Men weren..yn despeyre of hor lyues.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)145/24 : Hoppe is a ryghtfull tryste for a ryghtfull Werke, i-put be-twen wanhoppe and dysspayre.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)37 : Thou gettest none while thou stondest in dispaire.
2.
Misc. uses: (a) hopelessness of a situation or prospect; ruinous condition; (b) misguided or false hope.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.945 : Therof is no despeir, For sche schal ben hire fader heir.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42a/a : Ȝif þilke ymages be noȝt I seye..it is a certein tokene of despeire of lif.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)9/6 : Loue he noon harde curis & entermete he nouȝt of þo þat ben in dispeir.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3284 : For thenfeccioun of hir troubled eyr He..was in no dispeire.
- (1453) Paston2.292 : It [a house] stode at a grete dyspeyr..for the lockis of the dores arn pulled of.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.397 : When that it [a bridge] ys ruyn or in dispeyre.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.42 : Þis fals hope, þat sum men do clepen dispeir.