despair (despar)

[ 2 Cor. i. 8. IMG:content-2469.png:[blocks in formation] We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. iv. 8, Despair is the thought of the unattainable ne of any good, which works differently in men's minds, sometimes producing uneasine or pain, sometimes rest and indolency. Locke, Human Understanding, II. xx. § 11. Nothing is more certain than that despair has almost the same effect upon us with enjoyment, and that no sooner acquainted with the impo ibility of satisfying any desire, than the desire itself vanishes. Hume , Human Nature, Int. 2. That which causes hopele ne ; that of which there is no hope. The mere despair of surgery, he cures. Shak., Macbeth, iv. 3. The attempt of the Alexandrian Platonists to substitute the visions of trances for the conclusions of intellect has been called the despair of reason; and modern spiritualism, when it is not a drawing-room amusement, is too often a moment in the despair of faith. Encyc . Brit ., II. 202. =Syn. 1. Despondency, Despair, Desperation. Despon dency is a lo of hope sufficient to produce a lo of courage and a disposition to relax or relinquish effort, the despondent person tending to sink into spiritle inaction. Despair means a total lo of hope; despondency does not. Despair naturally destroys courage and stops all effort, but may produce a new kind of courage and fierce activity founded upon the sense that there is nothing worse to be feared. In this despair is akin to desperation, which is an active state and always tends to produce a furious struggle against adverse circumstances, even when the sit uation is utterly hopele . The calmne of his temper preserved him alike from extravagant elation and from extravagant despondency . Macaulay , Sir J. Mackintosh. What reinforcement we may gain from hope; If not, what resolution from despair . Milton , P. L., i. 191 IMG:content-2470.png:[blocks in formation] Boyle, Works, I. 237. for one In our overcharged House of Commons, ... N. A. Rev. , CXXVII. 207. thing of consequence that is done, five or ten are despair ingly postponed. despairing ne (des-par'ing-nes), n. The state of being despairing; hopele ne . Clarke. despatch, dispatch (des-, dis-pach'), v. [First found in early mod. E. (also spelled dispach ); the second syllable of depeach, an obs. var. of despatch. The spelling dispatch is etymologi cally the more correct form, but despatch, rare before its use in Johnson's dictionary, has largely displaced it.] I. trans. 1t. To deliver; rid; free; disentangle; discharge: usually reflexive. I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge. J. Udall , Pref. to Matthew. 2. To send to a destination; cause to start for or go to an appointed place; put under way: usually implying urgent importance or haste as to purpose, or promptne and regularity as to time: as, to despatch a me enger or a letter asking for a istance; to despatch an envoy to a foreign court; to despatch a ship. The King was at Beverly when he heard of his Brother's Death, and presently thereupon dispatched away Edmund Earl of Mortaigne into Normandy. Baker , Chronicles, p. 176. What peace of mind a sinner can have in this world who knows not how soon he may be dispatched to that place of torment. Stilling fleet, Sermons, I. x. Some hero must be dispatch'd , to bear The mournful me age to Pelides' ear. Pope , Iliad, xvii. Moses was... despatched to borrow a couple of chairs. Goldsmith, Vicar, ix. 3. To transact or dispose of speedily or with promptne ; attend to; bring to an end; accomplish: as, to despatch busine . Speak with poor men when they come to your houses, and despatch poor suitors. Latimer , Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1550. Ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The busine we have talk'd of. Shak., A. and C., ii. 2. Wheresoever they (merchants] go they certainly dis patch their busine so as to return back again with the next or contrary Monsoon. Dampier, Voyages, II. iii. 22. despatch The Three First Books I have already dispatched , and am now entring upon the Fourth. Add is on , Spectator, No. 321. Hence-4. To finish or make an end of by promptly putting to death; kill. The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords. Ezek. xxiii. 47. If 't please your grace to have me hang'd, I am ready; 'Tis but a miller and a thief despatch'd . Fletcher and Rowley , Maid in the Mill, iii. 2. The infidel... was instantly dispatched , to prevent his giving an alarm. Irving , Granada, p. 31. = Syn. 2. To hasten off.-3. To make short work of, dispose of (quickly).-4. Slay , Murder , etc. See kill . II.t in trans. 1. To go expeditiously; be quick. Despatch , I say, and find the forester. Shak., M. N. D., iv. 1. 2. To conclude or dispose of an affair or matter; make a finish. They have despatch'd with Pompey, he is gone. Shak ., A. and C., iii. 2. Twill be An hour before I can dispatch with him. B. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iii. 2. I might have finish'd ere he went, and not Delay'd his busine much; two or three words, And I had dispatch'd . Shirley, The Traitor, ii. 1. despatch, dispatch (des-, dis-pach'), n. [= D. depéche = G. Dan. depesche = Sw. depesch, the mails; the despatch of troops to the front. The several me engers From hence attend despatch . Shak., Lear, ii. 1. But because it would have taken up a long time to Load our Ve el with our own Boat only, we hired a Periago of the Logwood-cutters to bring it on Board; and by that means made the quicker dispatch . Dampier , Voyages, II. ii. 18. IMG:content-2471.png:[blocks in formation] Cato gave counsel in open senate, that they should give him [Carneades] his dispatch with all speed, lest he should infect and in chant the minds and affections of the youth. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 14. 3. Prompt or expeditious performance; complete or regular execution or transaction; the act of bringing to a conclusion. The daughter of the king of France, On serious busine , craving quick despatch , Importunes personal conference with his grace. Shak., L. L. L., ii. 1. Despatch of each day's little growth IMG:content-2472.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2473.png:[blocks in formation] Bearer of despatches, a person employed, either specially or regularly, in conveying official despatches, as between a government and its foreign envoys, or to or from a military or naval commander. - Happy despatch, a humorous name given to the form of judicial suicide known among the Japanese as hara - kir i. - Pneumatic despatch. See pneumatic.