a. [ L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado. ] 1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort. “Desperate expedients.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality. [ 1913 Webster ] A desperate offendress against nature. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] The most desperate of reprobates. Macaulay. Syn. -- Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic. [ 1913 Webster ] |