Crossword Genius

Despair in record fellows finally kept about these times (14)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

discouragement

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'despair' is the definition.
(I know that discouragement is a type of despair)

'record fellows finally kept about these times' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'record' could be 'disc' (eg a CD, compact disc) and 'disc' is located in the answer.
'fellows' could be 'men' (fellow can mean a man) and 'men' is found in the answer.
'about' could be 'a' (abbreviation in Chambers) and 'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for discouragement that I've seen before include "Persuasion (against an action)" , "A deterrent" , "causing despondency" , "That which disheartens" , "It's off-putting" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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