hope

—hoper, n. —hopingly, adv.

/hohp/, n., v., hoped, hoping.

n.

1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

2. a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.

3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.

5. something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

v.t.

6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

7. to believe, desire, or trust: I hope that my work will be satisfactory.

v.i.

8. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring.

9. Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually fol. by in).

10. hope against hope, to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it: We are hoping against hope for a change in her condition.

[bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE hopa; c. D hoop, G Hoffe; (v.) ME hopen, OE hopian]

Syn. 1. expectancy, longing. 8. See expect.

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(as used in expressions)

Cape of Good Hope

Franklin John Hope

Good Hope Cape of

Hope diamond

Hope Bob

Leslie Townes Hope

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▪ Arkansas, United States

      city, seat (1939) of Hempstead county, southwestern Arkansas, U.S., about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Texarkana. It was founded in 1852 as a station on the Cairo and Fulton (now Union Pacific (Union Pacific Railroad Company)) Railroad and was named for the daughter of James Loughborough, a railroad land commissioner who laid out the town site. It developed as a shipping centre for timber and agricultural products, notably watermelons, beef cattle, cotton, eggs, and poultry.

      The economy is based on poultry processing, bakery goods, and the manufacture of steel joists, auto parts, audio equipment, and molded plastics. Hope is the birthplace (1946) of William J. Clinton (Clinton, Bill), 42nd president of the United States. A community college affiliated with the University of Arkansas (Arkansas, University of) is located there. A few miles northwest is Old Washington Historic State Park, site of the Confederate State Capitol (1863–65) and other period buildings. Inc. town, 1875; city, 1906. Pop. (1990) 9,643; (2000) 10,616.

▪ British Columbia, Canada

      district municipality, southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It lies at the confluence of the Coquihalla and Fraser rivers in the forested Coast Mountains, near Mount Hope (6,000 feet [1,829 metres]), 90 miles (145 km) east of Vancouver. The Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Hope on the site in 1848–49, an event commemorated by a cairn at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Wallace Street. Hope became a busy outpost during the Fraser River gold rush in the late 1850s. Now a major railway and highway junction, its economy depends largely on lumbering, mining (nickel and copper), and tourism (based on such local attractions as the Fraser River Canyon and Skagit Valley). Inc. village, 1929; town, 1965. Pop. (2006) 6,185.

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