A spell of despondency 🪄🥀

Meaning

A short, temporary period of feeling very sad, hopeless, or low in spirits.

Origin

The word "spell," meaning a period of time, has a fascinating, almost magical lineage, conjuring images of an enchantment or a temporary state cast upon someone—a use dating back to Old English. When paired with "despondency," a feeling derived from the Latin "despondere," meaning "to give up" or "lose heart," the phrase truly captures the sense of being under an unwelcome, temporary mental cloud. It's as if a dark, melancholic influence has descended, not permanently claiming one's spirit, but holding it captive for a brief, heavy duration, waiting for the enchantment to break.

A spell of despondency represented with emoji🪄🥀

This playful arrangement of a magic wand and a wilting rose "A spell of despondency" evokes the ephemeral nature of enchantment, momentarily capturing the fleeting presence of sadness. Note how the juxtaposition underscores the fragility of joy, inviting a dialogue on the cyclical nature of our emotions.

Examples

• After receiving the disappointing news, she entered a spell of despondency that lasted several days.
• The dark, rainy weather seemed to induce a general spell of despondency across the entire town.