Etymology Map
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Despair

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the complete loss of hope

Where does the word "despair" come from? It comes from Latin desperare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
desperare
Latin · ancient
"to lose hope"
'de-', without, plus 'sperare', to hope
2
Stage 2 of 3
desperer
Old French · medieval
"to despair"
its past participle gave 'desperate'
3
Stage 3 of 3
despair
English · 1300s
"loss of hope"
used in medieval theology for a deadly sin
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Read the full story

Despair’s story begins in Latin: desperare meant “to lose hope.” 'de-', without, plus 'sperare', to hope. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as desperer. Its past participle gave 'desperate'. It reached English by 1300s as despair. Used in medieval theology for a deadly sin. Today, despair means the complete loss of hope.