Despondency is low spirits from a loss of hope. Sink into despondency, a mood of despondency, general despondency.
It is specifically hope that has gone, which is what separates it from sadness. The Latin means giving up a promise, from the same root as respond, since a despondent person has stopped answering.
1noundespondencyLow spirits from a loss of hope.
“After the third rejection letter, he fell into a deep despondency.”
despondency is a sadness.
Latin despondere means to give up or promise away, from de plus spondere, to pledge.
Latin
dēspondentia
English, today
despondency
From Latin dēspondentia, from dēspondēns + -ia. Equivalent to despondent + -ency.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA