What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Despair vs Grieve - What's the difference?

despair | grieve |

As a verb despair

is (obsolete) to give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.

As a noun despair

is loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.

As an adjective grieve is

.

despair

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (obsolete) To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
  • * Milton
  • I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.
  • (obsolete) To cause to despair.
  • To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.
  • * Bible, 2 Corinthians i. 8
  • We despaired even of life.

    Noun

  • Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
  • He turned around in despair , aware that he was not going to survive
  • That which is despaired of.
  • Synonyms

    * desperation * despondency * hopelessness

    Anagrams

    * aspired * diapers * praised

    grieve

    English

    Etymology 1

    From the conjugated forms of (etyl) .

    Verb

    (griev)
  • To cause sorrow or distress to.
  • * Bible, Eph. iv. 30
  • Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.
  • * Cowper
  • The maidens grieved themselves at my concern.
  • To feel very sad about; to mourn; to sorrow for.
  • to grieve one's fate
  • To experience grief.
  • (archaic) To harm.
  • To submit or file a grievance.
  • * 2009 D'Amico, Rob , Editor, Texas Teacher , published by Texas AFT (affiliate of American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO); "Austin classified employees gain due process rights", April 2009, p14:
  • Even if the executive director rules against the employee on appeal, the employee can still grieve the termination to the superintendent followed by an appeal to the [...] Board of Trustees.
    Derived terms
    * grieved * griever * grievingly

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A governor of a town or province.
  • (chiefly, Scotland) A manager or steward, e.g. of a farm.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • Their children were horsewhipped by the grieve .
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs ----