despair

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdēspērō, dēspērāre
2. Old French · derived fromdesperer
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromdespeir
4. Middle English · inherited fromdispeir
5. English todaydespair

From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”). See also desperate. Displaced native Old English ormōdnes (“despair”) and Old English ortrīewan (“to despair”).