---
title: despair — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «despair» in the school dictionary: The feeling of having lost all hope. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# despair

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** feeling, we, them, Toad, you, She · **What happens:** lose, not despair, find, drive, despair, be · **To what, where:** hope, cat, someone, despair, them, dungeon · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«despair» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [despair in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/despair.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feeling of having lost all hope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:m1:1
# text = The feeling of having lost all hope.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	aux	_	_
5	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund · perfect | the feeling *not said here* | all hope |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To lose hope: «Don't despair — we'll find your cat.».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:m2:1
# text = To lose hope: «Don't despair — we'll find your cat.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	lose	lose	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	despair	despair	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | to-infinitive |  | hope |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hope=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **despair** *in a quote* | infinitive · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **find** *in a quote* | future | we | your cat |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: phrase — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Drive someone to despair» or «be the despair of someone» means make them feel hopeless and worried.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:m3:1
# text = «Drive someone to despair» or «be the despair of someone» means make them feel hopeless and worried.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Drive	drive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	despair	despair	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
15	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	ccomp	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	hopeless	hopeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drive** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Patient clause=Result |
| 2 | **despair** *in a quote* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the despair |  |  |  | of someone | tree rules |
| 4 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **make** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **feel** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | hopeless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad lay in his dungeon in despair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x1:1
# text = Toad lay in his dungeon in despair.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lay	lie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dungeon	dungeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | past | Toad |  |  | Toad's dungeon |  | in despair | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in dungeon=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't despair — you can try again tomorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x2:1
# text = Don't despair — you can try again tomorrow.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	despair	despair	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	tomorrow	tomorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **despair** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **try** | can | you |  |  |  | again; tomorrow |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She shook her head in despair at the mess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x3:1
# text = She shook her head in despair at the mess.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mess	mess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | She | her head |  | despair |  | at the mess | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent head=Theme in despair=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher despaired of ever getting the class quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x4:1
# text = The teacher despaired of ever getting the class quiet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	despaired	despair	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	advmod	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **despair** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | the teacher *not said here* | the class |  |  | ever | quiet *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer class=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the storm, the farmers were in despair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x5:1
# text = After the storm, the farmers were in despair.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the farmers |  |  | despair | after the storm |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His messy room is the despair of his mum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x6:1
# text = His messy room is the despair of his mum.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	messy	messy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | His messy room | the despair |  |  |  | of his mum | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I do not despair of the future.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:despair:x7:1
# text = I do not despair of the future.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	despair	despair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **despair** |  | the future |  |  |  |  |  | nom despair «state intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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