Desperate \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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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