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désespérer

despair

verb deh-zess-peh-REH Less Common

Origin: Latin desperare (to be without hope)

Also means

lose hope

Usage Note

Désespérer can be transitive ('to make someone despair') or intransitive ('to despair'). The reflexive se désespérer means 'to be in despair'. The command ne désespère pas is a common encouragement. The related noun is le désespoir and the adjective désespéré (desperate/hopeless).

Examples

"Ne désespère pas, la situation va s'améliorer."

Natural Translation

Don't despair, the situation will improve.

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