despond
despond , intransitive verb
[Latin despondēre, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spondēre to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.]
To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view.
I should despair, or at least despond.
Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first difficulty.
We wish that... desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that the foundations of our national power still stand strong.
Despond , noun
Despondency. [Obsolete]
The slough of despond.