Despirit

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To drain someone of courage, hope or vitality, leaving them discouraged and low in mood
2. To strip a person of heart or resolve so that they feel disheartened and lifeless
3. To cause someone to lose enthusiasm, confidence or energy, making them dejected

Etymology: The verb "despirit" is simple to trace: it is formed in English by adding the prefix "de-" to "spirit," and its sense of stripping away a person's courage, hope or vigour is built directly on the noun's older meaning of breath. The "de-" comes from Latin, where it signified removal or downward movement, so to despirit something is, in effect, to take its spirit away. The noun behind it runs back through Latin "spīritus," meaning breath, from "spīrāre," to breathe, and this in turn traces to a Proto-Indo-European root for blowing or breathing. Breath was once the sign of life itself, which explains how the same word came to name the vital principle within a person, then their courage and mood. The noun reached English in Middle English, having passed through Old French "esprit," and the verb built on it followed the same pattern as other English verbs with "de-" that drain something of its quality.

Synonyms: discourage, dishearten, demoralize, depress, disappoint

Antonyms: encourage, inspire, motivate, cheer, uplift