Word Meaning
मायूस
māyūs
Meaning
Hopeless, disappointed, despondent, or driven to despair.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'māyūs' describes an individual or condition entirely deprived of hope, particularly concerning love or spiritual fulfillment. In this couplet, it describes a life ('umr') spent completely in despondency, highlighting the painful paradox that the heart continues to nurse longing despite having no expectation of fulfillment.
Etymology
Arabic مَأْيُوس (ma'yūs), the passive participle of يَئِسَ (ya'isa, meaning 'to despair' or 'to lose hope').
Usage
A central trope in the ghazal tradition, 'māyūs' is frequently contrasted with 'ummeed' (hope) to portray the lover's unyielding suffering.
Examples
A despondent heart lingering at the threshold of hope
Life passed in despair without a single glance of favor