Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “despond” come from?

Despond comes from Latin despondēo, formed from the prefix de- and the root spend-, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European de- and spend-.

despond (English): To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to...

Definitions

  1. To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to...

Ancestry of “despond”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latindēspondeō—
2Latindē-—
3Latindē—
4Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
5Latinposteablative singular of postis
6Proto-Italicposti—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “despond”

  • despondence
  • desponder
  • despondeth
  • despondest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →