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hope

(hōp)

v. hoped, hop·ing, hopes

v.intr.

1. To wish for a particular event that one considers possible: We are hoping for more financial support.

2. Archaic To have confidence; trust.

v.tr.

To desire and consider possible: I hope that you will join us for dinner. We hope to buy a house in the spring. See Synonyms at expect.

a. The longing or desire for something accompanied by the belief in the possibility of its occurrence: He took singing lessons in the hope of performing in the musical.

b. An instance of such longing or desire: Her hopes of becoming a doctor have not changed.

2. A source of or reason for such longing or desire: Good pitching is the team's only hope for victory.

3. often Hope Christianity The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.

4. Archaic Trust; confidence.

Idiom:

hope against hope

To hope with little reason or justification.

[Middle English hopen, from Old English hopian.]

hoper n.

Hope, Bob Originally Leslie Townes Hope. 1903-2003.

British-born American entertainer. He costarred with Bing Crosby in the popular "Road" films, beginning with Road to Singapore (1940). From World War II to the Gulf War, he entertained US troops overseas.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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