Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - despair

n. & v. --n. the complete loss or absence of hope. --v.intr. 1 (often foll. by of) lose or be without hope (despaired of ever seeing her again). 2 (foll. by of) lose hope about (his life is despaired of). Phrases and idioms be the despair of be the cause of despair by badness or unapproachable excellence (he's the despair of his parents). Derivatives despairingly adv. Etymology: ME f. OF desespeir, desperer f. L desperare (as DE-, sperare hope)