Des"per*ate (?), a. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]

1.

Without hope; given to despair; hopeless.

[Obs.]

I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak.

2.

Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.

3.

Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort.

"Desperate expedients."

Macaulay.

4.

Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality.

A desperate offendress against nature. Shak.

The most desperate of reprobates. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic.

 

© Webster 1913.


Des"per*ate, n.

One desperate or hopeless.

[Obs.]

 

© Webster 1913.