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désespoir

despair

noun day-zeh-SPWAHR Rare

Usage Note

Désespoir is an intense, hopeless grief. Au désespoir means 'in despair'. The verb is désespérer ('to despair, to lose hope'). The expression faire le désespoir de quelqu'un means 'to be the despair of someone' (e.g. a student who exasperates a teacher).

Examples

"Elle est tombée dans le désespoir."

Natural Translation

She fell into despair.

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