Middle English Dictionary Entry
desperāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | desperāciǒun n. Also disperaciǒun, dispira-, dispara-. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Loss or lack of hope or confidence; despair, desperation, despondency.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4818 : I wonder gretly..þat ȝe ben so rebel & contrarie To me, only of false collusioun Vs to bringe in disperacioun.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)21 : Thre þingges..byfel on þe Jewes..pilgrimage..þraldom..Dysperacioun.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)55/13 : If..all illes and infelicytes fell apon man..we schulde all be drawen in-to þe gilder of disparacion.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1570 : Put in desperacioun What to resceyve and which for to flee, Constreyned I am to make dubytacioun.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3680 : Al maner myrth Was exilid cleen, saff oonly molestacioune..and also dispiracioune.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)24/16 : Þo man þat..by disperacioun..sle him silf.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.429 : Darius beenge as in desperation of pease, mette Alexander.
2.
Theol. Lack of hope or faith in God's mercy, despondency; the diche of ~, the slough of despond.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1057 : And wanhope, that is desperacioun.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)7/23 : Desperacioun oþir wanhope, þat is ouere litil triste on þe merci of God.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)119/227 : Disperacion of Godis mercy, Of al þe payns in hel hit is most.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)21 : My sinne and my confusioun..Han take on me a greevous accioun Of..desperacioun..Dowte is ther noon, thou queen of misericorde, That thou n'art cause of grace.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)8/19 : He spekez aȝeynes presumpcyon and desperacion.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13932 : The ffyffte corde ys Desperacioun..Wyth wych whilom hangyd was Iudas.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.333 : For þe murmur and desperation [L desperationem] off the peple, the childer of Israel..were afflicte in deserte.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)350 : Hope haþ desperacion as his contrarie.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)78/4 : Therefore..liȝt penaunce shal be enioyned to him..for drede of desperacion.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)41 : Many of vs havith full feble feith, & þerfore many oon fallith in to þe diche of desperacion.
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)409 : The secund temptacion is disperacion, þe which is a-yenst hope & confidence þat euery good man schuld haue vnto god.