The spelling of the word "despair of" is straightforward once you understand its phonetic transcription. In IPA, "despair" is pronounced as [dɪˈspɛər]. The "e" at the end is silent, and the stress is on the second syllable. Furthermore, the "of" has the same "o" sound as in "hot" and "not," and it's pronounced as [ɒv]. Therefore, the correct phonetic transcription of "despair of" is [dɪˈspɛər ɒv]. This word combination implies hopelessness and regret, making it a useful phrase in a variety of contexts.
Despair of is a phrasal verb that refers to the feeling of hopelessness or loss of faith in something or someone. It conveys a sense of giving up or feeling that all possibilities for success or improvement have been exhausted.
When someone despairs of something, they have reached a point where they no longer believe that it can be accomplished or achieved. This feeling is often accompanied by a sense of frustration and disappointment. Despair of can also be used to describe a situation where one loses trust or confidence in a particular person or thing.
For example, if a student consistently fails his exams despite studying diligently, he may despair of ever passing the course. This means that he has lost hope or belief in his ability to succeed academically. Similarly, if a person repeatedly experiences disappointments in a relationship, they may despair of finding true love, feeling that they are destined to be alone forever.
In summary, to despair of is to lose hope, trust, or belief in something or someone. It represents a point of utmost frustration and despair, where all optimism and confidence have been eroded.
The etymology of the phrase "despair of" can be traced back to its individual components.
1. Despair: The word "despair" comes from the Old French word "desesperer" meaning "to be without hope". The Old French term originated from the Latin word "desperare", which shares the same meaning.
2. Of: The word "of" is a preposition in English, derived from the Old English "of" or "off". It signifies the connection between two things, indicating possession, origin, or association.
When these two words are combined, "despair of" implies a state of hopelessness, or lacking belief in the success or fulfillment of something. It suggests a feeling of giving up or losing hope.