Webster's English Dictionary

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despondent

de.spon.dent \-d*nt\ aj [L despondent-, despondens, prp. of desponde-re] : 
   feeling extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression {~ abo ut his 
   health}mean having lost all or nearly all hope. DESPONDENT implies a deep 
   dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort; 
   DESPAIRING suggests the slipping away of all hope and often an accompanying 
   despondency; DESPERATE implies despair that prompts reckless action or 
   convulsive struggle in the face of defeat or frustration; HOPELESS suggests 
   despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies 
   acceptance or resignation - de.spon.dent.ly av SYN syn DESPONDENT, 
   DESPAIRING, DESPERATE, HOPELESS