(a) The theological error or sin of insufficient faith in God’s mercy, despair that denies the promise of salvation and divine forgiveness; despair of salvation, grace, etc.; ~ of goddes merci; (b) lack of belief or trust in God’s power or desire to act on one’s behalf in time of trials, adversities, etc., a state of insufficient faith in God; unsteadfastness of belief; also, a denial of a tenet of faith [quot. ?a1450]; (c) an ungrounded presumption of salvation, overconfidence in God’s forgiveness, false hope; also, theological error, heresy.

(a) Lack of confidence in one’s power to overcome difficulties, an adversary, etc., hopelessness in the face of troubles; also in fig. context [quot. ?a1439]; also person.; also, a state of desperation or despair [quot. a1500 Methodius(3)]; lack of trust in one’s ability to win or hold a lover, romantic despair; also used metonymically for a lover [quot. a1393]; ~ of help, despair of amelioration of one’s condition; (b) vain hope, overconfidence, presumption; (c) in rendering of name: foles of ~.