HOPE, n. [L. cupio.]

1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. He wish'd, but not with hope. Milton. Sweet hope! kind cheat! Crashaw. He that lives upon hope, will die fasting. Franklin.
2. Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as, a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a Scriptural sense. A well founded Scriptural hope, is, in our religion, the source of ineffable happiness.
3. That which gives hope; he or that which furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good. The hope of Israel is the Messiah. The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel iii.
4. An opinion or belief not amounting to certainty, but grounded on substantial evidence. The Christian indulges a hope, that his sins are pardoned.

A sloping plain between ridges of mountains. [Not in use.] Ainsworth.

1. To cherish a desire of good, with some expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope for good success. Taylor. Be sober and hope to the end. 1 Pet. i. Hope humbly then, with trembling pinions soar. Pope.
2. To place confidence in; to trust in with confident expectation of good. Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. Ps. xlii.

To desire with expectation of good, or a belief that it may be obtained. But as a transitive verb, it is seldom used, and the phrases in which it is so used are elliptical, for being understood. So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear, Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear. Dryden.

1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges.
   
   
   [Obs.]
2. A desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy.
   
   

   The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job vii. 13.

   He wished, but not with hope. Milton.

   New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. Keble.

3. To entertain or indulge hope; to cherish a desire of good, or of something welcome, with expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable; to expect; -- usually followed by for.
   
   
   "Hope for good success." Jer. Taylor.

   But I will hope continually. Ps. lxxi. 14.

4. To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of.
   
   

   We hope no other from your majesty. Shak.

   [Charity] hopeth all things. 1 Cor. xiii. 7.

5. A small bay; an inlet; a haven.
   
   
   [Scot.] Jamieson.
6. One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.
   
   

   The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel iii. 16.

   A young gentleman of great hopes, whose love of learning was highly commendable. Macaulay.

7. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; -- usually followed by in.
   
   
   "I hope in thy word." Ps. cxix. 81.

   Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. Ps. xlii. 11.

8. To expect; to fear.
   
   
   [Obs.] "I hope he will be dead." Chaucer.

   * Hope is often used colloquially regarding uncertainties, with no reference to the future. "I hope she takes me to be flesh and blood." Mrs. Centlivre.

9. That which is hoped for; an object of hope.
   
   

   Lavina is thine elder brother's hope. Shak.