wanhope

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English wanhope, equivalent to wan- +‎ hope. Cognate with Scots wanhop, wanhope (“wanhope, despair”), West Frisian wanhope (“wanhope, despair”), Dutch wanhoop (“despair”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɒnhəʊp/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwɑnhoʊp/ === Noun === wanhope (usually uncountable, plural wanhopes) (UK dialectal or archaic) Lack of hope; hopelessness; despair. Synonyms: despond, unhope; see also Thesaurus:hopelessness Vain hope; overconfidence; delusion. Synonyms: pie in the sky, pipe dream === References === Middle English Dictionary Entry - wanhope == Middle English == === Noun === wanhope despair Late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Knight's Tale’, Canterbury Tales: Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse. / Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!