to despair
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to despair
To completely lose hope or courage because a situation seems hopeless. You no longer know how things can continue and feel helpless.
Nach stundenlanger erfolgloser Suche begann er langsam zu verzweifeln.
After hours of searching unsuccessfully, he slowly began to despair.
to despair over
To lose hope or courage because of a specific thing, person, or task. The construction with 'an' names the concrete trigger of the despair.
Sie ist fast an der Komplexität der mathematischen Aufgabe verzweifelt.
She almost despaired over the complexity of the math problem.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ver-' and the noun 'der Zweifel' (doubt). Here, the prefix 'ver-' intensifies the meaning and expresses that the doubts become so great that you lose hope.
Er spürte, wie die Zweifel ihn langsam zum Verzweifeln brachten.
He felt how the doubts were slowly driving him to despair.
The perfect tense of 'verzweifeln' (to despair) is always formed with 'sein' (to be), because it describes a change in an inner state. So it is 'ich bin verzweifelt' (I have despaired / I am desperate), not 'ich habe verzweifelt'.
Sie ist an der schwierigen Situation fast verzweifelt.
She almost despaired over the difficult situation.
When you want to name the reason for the despair, you use the preposition 'an' followed by the dative. You despair 'an' (over / because of) a person, a thing, or a situation.
Der Schüler verzweifelte an den komplizierten Hausaufgaben.
The student despaired over the complicated homework.
Common reasons people despair over are abstract things. Typical combinations are 'an einer Aufgabe verzweifeln' (to despair over a task), 'an der Bürokratie verzweifeln' (to despair over bureaucracy), or also 'an sich selbst verzweifeln' (to despair over oneself).
Viele Künstler verzweifeln manchmal an sich selbst und ihren Fähigkeiten.
Many artists sometimes despair over themselves and their abilities.
to give up / submit
Both words fit a difficult, seemingly unsuccessful task. Aufgeben refers to the decision to end the attempt. Verzweifeln an einer Aufgabe, on the other hand, describes an inner loss of hope and courage; the person may still continue anyway.
Nach vielen erfolglosen Versuchen verzweifelt Paul fast an der Reparatur.
After many unsuccessful attempts, Paul nearly loses hope over the repair.
Nach vielen erfolglosen Versuchen gibt Paul die Reparatur auf.
After many unsuccessful attempts, Paul gives up on the repair.
