despaired, ppl. a.
(dɪˈspɛəd)
[f. despair v., corresp. in use to OF. desperé, desesperé, L. dēspērātus: see desperate.]
† 1. In despair, despairing, desperate. to be despaired, to be desperate or in despair, to be without hope, to despair. (Frequent 14–16th c.). Obs.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. C. 169 Þenne bi-speke þe spakest dispayred wel nere. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 215 He was despeyred, no thyng dorste he seye. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 92/1 The gloryouse vyrgyne Marye whyche is confoorte to dysconforted and hope to dispayred. Ibid. 425 b/2 To thende that for their synnes..they shold not be despeyred. 1494 Fabyan Chron. i. xvi. 16 She beynge dyspayred of the recouery of her astate. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxliii. [cxxxix.] 397 They shulde haue been so sore dyspayred and dyscoraged. a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 19 He dyed..in a phrenesye, and as one dispared. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 27 O in hou many things haw I offended..but ȝit I am nocht despered. |
† 2. Of conditions, circumstances, etc.: Characterized by absence of hope; hopeless, desperate.
| 1382 Wyclif Micah i. 9 For plage, or wounde, therof is dispeirid. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 376 All though the weder be despeired. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 104 b/1 He toke it as all dyspayred and wold haue slayn hym self. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 9 Men in despaired states are restored to good hope. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 488 Relieving the dispeired cause of his distressed Church. |
† b. Of persons: Desperate, reckless. Obs. rare.
| 1571 Satir. Poems Reform. xxv. 29 These despaired [v.r. dispard] birdis of Beliall. |
† 3. Despaired of; no longer hoped for; cf. despair v. 3. Obs.
| 1597 J. King On Jonas (1618) 284 Two singular and almost despaired deliuerances. 1647 Crashaw Sosp. d'Hero liv, Of th' Hebrew's royal stem, That old dry stock—a despair'd branch is sprung. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Iustine 293 Sometimes..more certain is a dispaired then a presumed Victory. |
4. despaired of: see despair v. 1.
| 1635 A. Stafford Fem. Glory (1860) 129 The fruit whereof she reaped in her dispair'd of Fertility. 1884 J. H. Stirling in Mind Oct. 531 Heretofore despaired-of philosophy. |