dispair

English

Etymology

From dis- +‎ pair.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌdɪsˈpɛə(ɹ)/

Verb

dispair (third-person singular simple present dispairs, present participle dispairing, simple past and past participle dispaired)

1. (transitive, uncommon) To separate (a pair).

   Hypernyms: disassociate, separate; split up, break up, break apart

   Near-synonyms: unpair; decouple, uncouple

   • c. 1608–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, “Four Playes, or Morall Representations, in One”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, [The Triumph of Love, scene v], page 37, column 1:

     Forgive me, Lady, I have deſtroyed Gerrard, and thee; rebell'd againſt heavens ordinance; diſ-pair'd two doves, made 'em ſit mourning; [...]

   dispaired twins

Usage notes

Not to be confused with despair, a homophone or near-homophone.

Related terms

• disparate

Translations

• Spanish: desparejar (es)

References

• “dispair”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• diapirs