2 entries under this word

Desperate

Dĕs'per-ate, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See DESPAIR.] 1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless; despairing. [Obs.] I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak.

  1. Beyond hope; despaired of; irretrievable; past cure; as, a desperate disease; desperate ruin. “The most desperate of reprobates.” Macaulay.
  2. Proceeding from despair; without regard to danger or safety; as, a desperate effort. “Desperate expedients.” Macaulay.

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

Dés'per-ate, n.

noun

A desperate person; one without hope. [Obs.] Donne.