Obs. Also 4 espeir, espeyre, 5 espaire, espoyr 4 aphet, speire. [a. OF. espeire fem., espeir masc., mod.F. espoir, f. esperer to hope. Cf. Pg. esper masc., Sp. espera fem.] Hope, expectation.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 211. To putten Rome in full espeire [v.r. espeyre]. Ibid., III. 33. And as the plover doth of aire, I live and am in good espeire.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Laud 622), 1030. To þi comyng was al my speire, To haue ymade of þee myne eire.
c. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 287/1. The good were weived and put out of espoire of the knot.
c. 1450. Castle Hd. Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2671. And asked him with gude espaire.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 7 b. The foundement upon whiche my total espoyr and hope resteth.
