desperateadj.n.adv.

Brit.

/ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/, U.S.

/ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

Forms: Also Middle English dysperate, 1500s–1600s desperat, 1500s despert, 1600s disperate, desparate, 1800s dialect des-, dispert.

Etymology: < Latin dēspērātus, given up, despaired of, desperate, past participle of dēspērāre to despair v. Compare parallel use of Old French desperé , desesperé , Italian disperato , Spanish desesperado , Portuguese desesperado , and of despaired adj.

A. adj.

I. Expressing or exhibiting loss of hope.

†1.

a. Of a person: Having lost or abandoned hope; in despair, despairing, hopeless. (Const. of.) Obsolete or archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective]

ormodeOE

ortroweOE

aerwenec1275

wanlessa1300

desesperatc1384

despairedc1400

wanhopelyc1425

lornc1475

desperate1483

wanhope1549

hopelost1570

despairfula1586

forlorn1603

despairinga1616

hopelessa1616

unhopinga1628

lost1709

au désespoir1766

unanticipative1847

unhopeful1850

1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton I vij Thenne the good man woofull and as desperate wente toward his thyrdde frende.

1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xviii. 55 Men thus desperate of mercy and pytie.

1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 266/1 The deuil is desperate and hath not nor cannot haue faith and trust in gods promises.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcj^v The citezens..desperate of all aide and succor.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. ii. 5 I am desperate of obtaining her.

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. iv. ii. v. 781 Bede saith Pilot died desperate eight yeares after Christ.

1678 T. Shadwell Hist. Timon ii. 20 Marri'd like some vulgar Creature, which Snatches at the first offer, as if she Were desperate of having any other.

1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xv. xiv. 208 Brühl still refuses to be desperate of his bad game.

†b. Of actions, etc.: Expressing or indicating despair, despairing. ? Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective] > of action: expressing despair

desperate1555

1555 J. Traves Let. in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xxxiii. 87 Without desperate voices, thoughts, gronyngs or woes.

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H1^v Shee starteth, To finde some desp'rat Instrument of death.

a1656 J. Hales Tracts (1677) i. 18 If St. Paul in this place, meant the sin against the Holy Ghost,..then this were the only desperate Text in the whole Bible.

1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xii. 173 He was answered only with desperate sobs.

2. Of conditions, etc.: That leaves little or no room for hope; such as to be despaired of; extremely dangerous or serious.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective] > of conditions: offering no hope

desperate1555

1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. ciij Th[e] expert phisitian vseth vehement remedies for desperate diseases.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. v. 115 My suite then is desperate: You'll vndertake her no more?

1659 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. i. xviii. 211 The affaires of the North growing more desperate.

1683 Britanniæ Speculum 31 A Man..in a desperate Sickness.

1720 J. Swift Let. to Young Gentleman Younger brothers of obscure families, and others of desperate fortunes.

1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick 89 This has cured in a desperate Case.

1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. i. 21 Agony, and grief, and desperate wo.

1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 56 Their case seemed desperate, for there was no one to help them.

†3.

a. Of things (and persons): Despaired of, given up as hopeless; whose recovery is past hope; incurable, irretrievable, irreclaimable. desperate debt, a ‘bad’ debt; so desperate debtor. Obsolete (except as associated with 7.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > state of being accursed > [adjective] > as everyday imprecation

stinking?c1225

misbegetc1325

banned1340

cursefula1382

wariablea1382

cursedc1386

biccheda1400

maledighta1400

vilea1400

accursedc1400

whoresona1450

remauldit?1473

execrable1490

infamous1490

unbicheda1500

jolly1534

bloodyc1540

mangy?1548

pagan1550

damned1563

misbegotten1571

putid1580

desperate1581

excremental1591

inexecrable?1594

sacred1594

putrid1628

sad1664

blasted1682

plagued1728

damnation1757

infernal1764

damn1775

pesky1775

deuced1782

shocking1798

blessed1806

darned1815

dinged1821

anointed1823

goldarn1830

darn1835

cussed1837

blamed1840

unholy1842

verdomde1850

bleeding1858

ghastly1860

goddam1861

blankety1872

blame1876

bastard1877

God-awful1877

dashed1881

sodding1881

bally1885

ungodly1887

blazing1888

dee1889

motherfucking1890

blistering1900

plurry1900

Christly1910

blinking1914

blethering1915

blighted1915

blighting1916

soddish1922

somethinged1922

effing1929

Jesus1929

dagnab1934

bastarding1944

Christless1947

mother-loving1948

mothering1951

pussyclaat1957

mother-grabbing1959

pigging1970

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [adjective] > of states or events > to be despaired of

despairablea1382

despairedc1384

desperate1581

1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxv. 124 The Physician deliuereth the desperate sicke bodie, to the Diuines care.

1615 T. Heywood Foure Prentises in Wks. (1874) II. 223 I haue bene the meanes to saue your desperate liues.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xi. 48 The estate of a desperate debtor.

1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 125 So as to loose all hope of recovery..When they perceived him to be desperate [etc.].

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 819/2 Receiving debts which they had given up as desperate.

1819 J. Greig Rep. Affairs Edinb. 17 After deduction of desperate arrears.

1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life vi. 84 Those desperate scraps of meat which are found impracticable even by the sausage-makers.

b. Of an undertaking, etc.: That is, or may be, despaired of; which there is no hope of carrying out or accomplishing.

ΚΠ

1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xix. 126 If he throws up his desperate game, he may happily winne the next.

1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. v. 393 He saw his Journey into Ireland desperate.

a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) v. 133 Aristotle regarded the successful prosecution of ethical enquiries as all but desperate.

II. Expressing or involving recklessness or great risk, and related uses.

a. Of persons: Driven to desperation, reckless or infuriated from despair. Hence, Having the character of one in this condition; extremely reckless or violent, ready to run any risk or go any length.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > rash or reckless > reckless on account of despair

desperate1490

despaired1571

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 245 Reynawde setted noughte by his lyffe..for he was as a man dysperate.

c1535 R. Layton Let. in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monasteries (1843) 76 Thabbot is a daingerouse desperate knave and a hardy.

1631 Foxe's Actes & Monuments (ed. 7) III. Contin. 51/2 Two or three desperate villaines knocked at the dore.

1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures iv. 9 He used me so cruelly, that becoming even desperate..I was..upon the point to have poysoned my self.

1718 Free-thinker No. 42. 2 Want makes Men desperate.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 173 Plotters, many of whom were ruined and desperate men.

†b. Reckless, utterly careless (of). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > careless or heedless > of, to, or with something

recklesslOE

unthoughtfulc1485

inconsiderate1607

desperatea1616

wretchless1661

slow1667

unconcerned1667

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) v. i. 60 Heere in the streets, desperate of shame and state, In priuate brabble did we apprehend him.

a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Sssss5/1 Bee'st thou desperate Of thine owne life? yet (deerest) pitty mine.

c. Suffering extreme need or having a great desire for (colloquial).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > inordinate or excessive desire > [adjective]

lustfulc893

yevereOE

covetousa1300

unmeasurablea1398

lustsomea1400

over-lustya1500

coveting1526

kitish1566

inexpleble1569

salt1598

over-desirous1647

voraginousa1652

sitient1656

voragious1665

gluttonous1671

ingorgeous1679

voracious1746

edacious1819

snack1883

desperatea1958

a1958 M. R. Rinehart in Webster (1961) The old lady was desperate for money.

1975 Economist 8 Feb. 95/1 Scott Lithgow..were desperate for staff throughout the crisis.

1986 Financial Times 21 July p. vi/2 Many New Zealanders ask why, in a world desperate for food, its most efficient dairy producers should be facing economic collapse.

d. Desperately in love.

ΚΠ

1835 Knickerbocker Mag. 5 301 They were, it was plain to see, quite desperate with each other.

a. Of actions, etc.: Characterized by the recklessness or resolution of despair; applied esp. to actions done or means resorted to in the last extremity, when all else fails, and the great risk of failure is accepted for the sake of the small but only chance of success; hence often connoting extreme violence of action such as is exercised in such conditions.

ΚΠ

1580 J. Lyly Euphues (new ed.) f. 18 In battailes there ought to be a doubtfull fight, and a desperate ende.

1623 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. (1659) 120 According to the usual Proverb, A desperate Disease must have a desperate remedy.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 107 His look denounc'd Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous To less then Gods.

a1800 W. Cowper Needless Alarm 132 Beware of desperate steps.

1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley ix. 134 This desperate pursuit of money.

1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. 233 Alcetas made a desperate attempt to dislodge the enemy..but was repulsed.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 225 A desperate conflict against overwhelming odds.

†b. Involving serious risk; very dangerous to undertake or enter upon. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > full of risk

adventurousa1375

jeopardous1451

jeopardious?1504

hazardous1549

venturous1570

hazardly1575

chanceful1591

unsafe1597

venturable1597

hazard1601

desperatea1616

hazardable1618

hazardful1626

discriminous1658

venturesome1661

precarious1727

riskful1793

risky1813

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 32 This Boy..hath bin tutor'd in the rudiments Of many desperate studies, by his vnckle, Whom he reports to be a great Magitian.

1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 33 Marriage is a desperate thing, the Frogs in Æsop..would not leap into the Well, because they could not get out again.

†6. Of a quality denoting recklessness; outrageous, extravagant. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > [adjective] > extravagant, excessive

overdoinga1425

ramping1484

egregious1566

desperatea1568

outlandish1588

hyperbolical1589

furious1671

wanton1680

outré1722

steep1856

plush horse1936

a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 15 If som Smithfeild Ruffian take vp..(som fresh new othe)..som new disguised garment, or desperate hat, fond in facion, or gaurish in colour.

1656 J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique Unvail'd 48 Catachresis..is an improper kinde of speech, somewhat more desperate than a Metaphor.

1661 R. Sanderson Pref. Ussher's Power Princes Pref. (1683) 19 The desparate Principles and Resolutions of Quakers..who utterly refuse to take the Oath of Supremacy.

7. Of such a quality as to be despaired of; hopelessly or extremely bad; extreme, excessive, ‘awful’: cf. C., and desperately adv. 5.

ΚΠ

1615 J. Stephens Ess. & Characters (new ed.) 18 But among all base writers of this time, I cannot reckon up more desperate rime.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. i. 21 The desperate Tempest hath so bang'd the Turke, That their designement halts.

1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 17 Concluding all were desp'rate Sots and Fools, That durst depart from Aristotle's Rules.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 113. ⁋4 She is such a desperate Scholar, that no Country Gentleman can approach her without being a Jest.

1814 D. H. O'Brien Narr. Captiv. & Escape 156 It rained—blew—thundered—and lightened, I never recollect a more desperate night.

†B. n. Obsolete.

†1. (a) A person in despair. (b) One in a desperate condition, a wretch.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [noun] > person or thing beyond hope > in desperate situation

desperate1563

desperado1610

despairer1620

1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 477*/2 Laborious and painful to y^e desperats, a precher to the prisoners and comfortles.

a1598 Burleigh in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 278 It sufficeth to weaken the discontented, but there is no way but to kill desperates.

1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir iii. sig. G4 Miserable totterdemalions, rag-a-muffins, and lowsie desperates.

1854 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims in Wks. (1906) III. 173 [He] who sits among the young aspirants and desperates, quite sure and compact.

†2.

a. One habituated to or ready for desperate deeds; = desperado n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > rashness or recklessness > recklessness induced by despair > person

desperate?1611

desperado1647

perdidoa1734

?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiv. 159 The deadliest desperate Of all about him.

1633 J. Done tr. ‘Aristeas’ Aunc. Hist. Septuagint 204 Theeues, and Adulterous desperates, shaken off and damned by the Word of God.

1683 Apol. Protestants France iii. 9 This young Desperate confessed, that he heard them say, That it was lawful to kill the King.

1718 Free-thinker No. 32. 1 The Zeal of these frantick Desperates.

†b. In good sense: One who engages in a desperate or extremely perilous undertaking.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > courage > heroism > [noun] > hero > person of deeds

man or folk of featc1500

Roland1525

desperate1578

derring doers1596

white knight1628

1578 J. Polemon All Famous Battels 17 Three hundred..yong men, who for commendation gotten by extreame perill, are called the Desperates, the Forlorne hopen.

C. adv.

Desperately, hopelessly; usually (colloquial and dialect) as an intensive: Excessively, extremely, ‘awfully’ (cf. A. 7).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively

cruellyc1385

overa1400

fullc1400

parlouslyc1425

mortalc1440

perilousc1440

spitefulc1450

devilish1560

pestilently1567

spitefully1567

cruel1573

parlous1575

deadly1589

intolerable?1593

fellc1600

perditlya1632

excessively1634

devilishly1635

desperate1636

woundya1639

woundlya1644

desperately1653

wicked1663

killing1672

woundily1706

wounded1753

mortally1759

dreadful1762

intolerably1768

perishing1776

tremendously1776

terrifically1777

diabolically1792

woundedly1794

thundering1809

all-firedly1833

preponderously1835

painfully1839

deadlilya1843

severely1854

furiously1856

diabolish1858

fiendish1861

demonish1867

sinfully1869

fiendishly1879

thunderingly1885

only too1889

nightmarishly1891

God almighty1906

Christ almighty1945

1636 H. Blount Voy. Levant 109 I noted them so desperate malicious towards one another.

1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 120 I shewed them how desperately ill I was.

1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. iii. ii. 186 The road..was desperate bad.

1853 C. Dickens Bleak House lvii. 546 It's a desperate sharp night for a young lady to be out in.

1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) (at cited word) ‘I'm despert glad to see you.’

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	desperate
释义	desperateadj.n.adv. Brit. /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/, U.S. /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/ Forms: Also Middle English dysperate, 1500s–1600s desperat, 1500s despert, 1600s disperate, desparate, 1800s dialect des-, dispert. Etymology: < Latin dēspērātus, given up, despaired of, desperate, past participle of dēspērāre to despair v. Compare parallel use of Old French desperé , desesperé , Italian disperato , Spanish desesperado , Portuguese desesperado , and of despaired adj. A. adj. I. Expressing or exhibiting loss of hope. †1. a. Of a person: Having lost or abandoned hope; in despair, despairing, hopeless. (Const. of.) Obsolete or archaic. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective] ormodeOE ortroweOE aerwenec1275 wanlessa1300 desesperatc1384 despairedc1400 wanhopelyc1425 lornc1475 desperate1483 wanhope1549 hopelost1570 despairfula1586 forlorn1603 despairinga1616 hopelessa1616 unhopinga1628 lost1709 au désespoir1766 unanticipative1847 unhopeful1850 1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton I vij Thenne the good man woofull and as desperate wente toward his thyrdde frende. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xviii. 55 Men thus desperate of mercy and pytie. 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 266/1 The deuil is desperate and hath not nor cannot haue faith and trust in gods promises. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcj^v The citezens..desperate of all aide and succor. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. ii. 5 I am desperate of obtaining her. View more context for this quotation 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. iv. ii. v. 781 Bede saith Pilot died desperate eight yeares after Christ. 1678 T. Shadwell Hist. Timon ii. 20 Marri'd like some vulgar Creature, which Snatches at the first offer, as if she Were desperate of having any other. 1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xv. xiv. 208 Brühl still refuses to be desperate of his bad game. †b. Of actions, etc.: Expressing or indicating despair, despairing. ? Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective] > of action: expressing despair desperate1555 1555 J. Traves Let. in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xxxiii. 87 Without desperate voices, thoughts, gronyngs or woes. 1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H1^v Shee starteth, To finde some desp'rat Instrument of death. View more context for this quotation a1656 J. Hales Tracts (1677) i. 18 If St. Paul in this place, meant the sin against the Holy Ghost,..then this were the only desperate Text in the whole Bible. 1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xii. 173 He was answered only with desperate sobs. 2. Of conditions, etc.: That leaves little or no room for hope; such as to be despaired of; extremely dangerous or serious. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adjective] > of conditions: offering no hope desperate1555 1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. ciij Th[e] expert phisitian vseth vehement remedies for desperate diseases. a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. v. 115 My suite then is desperate: You'll vndertake her no more? View more context for this quotation 1659 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. i. xviii. 211 The affaires of the North growing more desperate. 1683 Britanniæ Speculum 31 A Man..in a desperate Sickness. 1720 J. Swift Let. to Young Gentleman Younger brothers of obscure families, and others of desperate fortunes. 1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick 89 This has cured in a desperate Case. 1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. i. 21 Agony, and grief, and desperate wo. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 56 Their case seemed desperate, for there was no one to help them. †3. a. Of things (and persons): Despaired of, given up as hopeless; whose recovery is past hope; incurable, irretrievable, irreclaimable. desperate debt, a ‘bad’ debt; so desperate debtor. Obsolete (except as associated with 7.) ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > state of being accursed > [adjective] > as everyday imprecation stinking?c1225 misbegetc1325 banned1340 cursefula1382 wariablea1382 cursedc1386 biccheda1400 maledighta1400 vilea1400 accursedc1400 whoresona1450 remauldit?1473 execrable1490 infamous1490 unbicheda1500 jolly1534 bloodyc1540 mangy?1548 pagan1550 damned1563 misbegotten1571 putid1580 desperate1581 excremental1591 inexecrable?1594 sacred1594 putrid1628 sad1664 blasted1682 plagued1728 damnation1757 infernal1764 damn1775 pesky1775 deuced1782 shocking1798 blessed1806 darned1815 dinged1821 anointed1823 goldarn1830 darn1835 cussed1837 blamed1840 unholy1842 verdomde1850 bleeding1858 ghastly1860 goddam1861 blankety1872 blame1876 bastard1877 God-awful1877 dashed1881 sodding1881 bally1885 ungodly1887 blazing1888 dee1889 motherfucking1890 blistering1900 plurry1900 Christly1910 blinking1914 blethering1915 blighted1915 blighting1916 soddish1922 somethinged1922 effing1929 Jesus1929 dagnab1934 bastarding1944 Christless1947 mother-loving1948 mothering1951 pussyclaat1957 mother-grabbing1959 pigging1970 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [adjective] > of states or events > to be despaired of despairablea1382 despairedc1384 desperate1581 1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxv. 124 The Physician deliuereth the desperate sicke bodie, to the Diuines care. 1615 T. Heywood Foure Prentises in Wks. (1874) II. 223 I haue bene the meanes to saue your desperate liues. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. xi. 48 The estate of a desperate debtor. 1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 125 So as to loose all hope of recovery..When they perceived him to be desperate [etc.]. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 819/2 Receiving debts which they had given up as desperate. 1819 J. Greig Rep. Affairs Edinb. 17 After deduction of desperate arrears. 1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life vi. 84 Those desperate scraps of meat which are found impracticable even by the sausage-makers. b. Of an undertaking, etc.: That is, or may be, despaired of; which there is no hope of carrying out or accomplishing. ΚΠ 1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xix. 126 If he throws up his desperate game, he may happily winne the next. 1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. v. 393 He saw his Journey into Ireland desperate. a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) v. 133 Aristotle regarded the successful prosecution of ethical enquiries as all but desperate. II. Expressing or involving recklessness or great risk, and related uses. 4. a. Of persons: Driven to desperation, reckless or infuriated from despair. Hence, Having the character of one in this condition; extremely reckless or violent, ready to run any risk or go any length. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > rash or reckless > reckless on account of despair desperate1490 despaired1571 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 245 Reynawde setted noughte by his lyffe..for he was as a man dysperate. c1535 R. Layton Let. in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monasteries (1843) 76 Thabbot is a daingerouse desperate knave and a hardy. 1631 Foxe's Actes & Monuments (ed. 7) III. Contin. 51/2 Two or three desperate villaines knocked at the dore. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures iv. 9 He used me so cruelly, that becoming even desperate..I was..upon the point to have poysoned my self. 1718 Free-thinker No. 42. 2 Want makes Men desperate. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 173 Plotters, many of whom were ruined and desperate men. †b. Reckless, utterly careless (of). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > careless or heedless > of, to, or with something recklesslOE unthoughtfulc1485 inconsiderate1607 desperatea1616 wretchless1661 slow1667 unconcerned1667 a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) v. i. 60 Heere in the streets, desperate of shame and state, In priuate brabble did we apprehend him. View more context for this quotation a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Sssss5/1 Bee'st thou desperate Of thine owne life? yet (deerest) pitty mine. c. Suffering extreme need or having a great desire for (colloquial). ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > inordinate or excessive desire > [adjective] lustfulc893 yevereOE covetousa1300 unmeasurablea1398 lustsomea1400 over-lustya1500 coveting1526 kitish1566 inexpleble1569 salt1598 over-desirous1647 voraginousa1652 sitient1656 voragious1665 gluttonous1671 ingorgeous1679 voracious1746 edacious1819 snack1883 desperatea1958 a1958 M. R. Rinehart in Webster (1961) The old lady was desperate for money. 1975 Economist 8 Feb. 95/1 Scott Lithgow..were desperate for staff throughout the crisis. 1986 Financial Times 21 July p. vi/2 Many New Zealanders ask why, in a world desperate for food, its most efficient dairy producers should be facing economic collapse. d. Desperately in love. ΚΠ 1835 Knickerbocker Mag. 5 301 They were, it was plain to see, quite desperate with each other. 5. a. Of actions, etc.: Characterized by the recklessness or resolution of despair; applied esp. to actions done or means resorted to in the last extremity, when all else fails, and the great risk of failure is accepted for the sake of the small but only chance of success; hence often connoting extreme violence of action such as is exercised in such conditions. ΚΠ 1580 J. Lyly Euphues (new ed.) f. 18 In battailes there ought to be a doubtfull fight, and a desperate ende. 1623 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. (1659) 120 According to the usual Proverb, A desperate Disease must have a desperate remedy. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 107 His look denounc'd Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous To less then Gods. View more context for this quotation a1800 W. Cowper Needless Alarm 132 Beware of desperate steps. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley ix. 134 This desperate pursuit of money. 1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. 233 Alcetas made a desperate attempt to dislodge the enemy..but was repulsed. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 225 A desperate conflict against overwhelming odds. †b. Involving serious risk; very dangerous to undertake or enter upon. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > full of risk adventurousa1375 jeopardous1451 jeopardious?1504 hazardous1549 venturous1570 hazardly1575 chanceful1591 unsafe1597 venturable1597 hazard1601 desperatea1616 hazardable1618 hazardful1626 discriminous1658 venturesome1661 precarious1727 riskful1793 risky1813 a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 32 This Boy..hath bin tutor'd in the rudiments Of many desperate studies, by his vnckle, Whom he reports to be a great Magitian. 1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 33 Marriage is a desperate thing, the Frogs in Æsop..would not leap into the Well, because they could not get out again. †6. Of a quality denoting recklessness; outrageous, extravagant. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > [adjective] > extravagant, excessive overdoinga1425 ramping1484 egregious1566 desperatea1568 outlandish1588 hyperbolical1589 furious1671 wanton1680 outré1722 steep1856 plush horse1936 a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 15 If som Smithfeild Ruffian take vp..(som fresh new othe)..som new disguised garment, or desperate hat, fond in facion, or gaurish in colour. 1656 J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique Unvail'd 48 Catachresis..is an improper kinde of speech, somewhat more desperate than a Metaphor. 1661 R. Sanderson Pref. Ussher's Power Princes Pref. (1683) 19 The desparate Principles and Resolutions of Quakers..who utterly refuse to take the Oath of Supremacy. 7. Of such a quality as to be despaired of; hopelessly or extremely bad; extreme, excessive, ‘awful’: cf. C., and desperately adv. 5. ΚΠ 1615 J. Stephens Ess. & Characters (new ed.) 18 But among all base writers of this time, I cannot reckon up more desperate rime. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. i. 21 The desperate Tempest hath so bang'd the Turke, That their designement halts. View more context for this quotation 1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 17 Concluding all were desp'rate Sots and Fools, That durst depart from Aristotle's Rules. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 113. ⁋4 She is such a desperate Scholar, that no Country Gentleman can approach her without being a Jest. 1814 D. H. O'Brien Narr. Captiv. & Escape 156 It rained—blew—thundered—and lightened, I never recollect a more desperate night. †B. n. Obsolete. †1. (a) A person in despair. (b) One in a desperate condition, a wretch. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [noun] > person or thing beyond hope > in desperate situation desperate1563 desperado1610 despairer1620 1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 477/2 Laborious and painful to y^e desperats, a precher to the prisoners and comfortles. a1598 Burleigh in Harl. Misc.* (Malh.) II. 278 It sufficeth to weaken the discontented, but there is no way but to kill desperates. 1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger Virgin Martir iii. sig. G4 Miserable totterdemalions, rag-a-muffins, and lowsie desperates. 1854 R. W. Emerson Lett. & Social Aims in Wks. (1906) III. 173 [He] who sits among the young aspirants and desperates, quite sure and compact. †2. a. One habituated to or ready for desperate deeds; = desperado n. 2. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > rashness or recklessness > recklessness induced by despair > person desperate?1611 desperado1647 perdidoa1734 ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiv. 159 The deadliest desperate Of all about him. 1633 J. Done tr. ‘Aristeas’ Aunc. Hist. Septuagint 204 Theeues, and Adulterous desperates, shaken off and damned by the Word of God. 1683 Apol. Protestants France iii. 9 This young Desperate confessed, that he heard them say, That it was lawful to kill the King. 1718 Free-thinker No. 32. 1 The Zeal of these frantick Desperates. †b. In good sense: One who engages in a desperate or extremely perilous undertaking. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > courage > heroism > [noun] > hero > person of deeds man or folk of featc1500 Roland1525 desperate1578 derring doers1596 white knight1628 1578 J. Polemon All Famous Battels 17 Three hundred..yong men, who for commendation gotten by extreame perill, are called the Desperates, the Forlorne hopen. C. adv. Desperately, hopelessly; usually (colloquial and dialect) as an intensive: Excessively, extremely, ‘awfully’ (cf. A. 7). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively cruellyc1385 overa1400 fullc1400 parlouslyc1425 mortalc1440 perilousc1440 spitefulc1450 devilish1560 pestilently1567 spitefully1567 cruel1573 parlous1575 deadly1589 intolerable?1593 fellc1600 perditlya1632 excessively1634 devilishly1635 desperate1636 woundya1639 woundlya1644 desperately1653 wicked1663 killing1672 woundily1706 wounded1753 mortally1759 dreadful1762 intolerably1768 perishing1776 tremendously1776 terrifically1777 diabolically1792 woundedly1794 thundering1809 all-firedly1833 preponderously1835 painfully1839 deadlilya1843 severely1854 furiously1856 diabolish1858 fiendish1861 demonish1867 sinfully1869 fiendishly1879 thunderingly1885 only too1889 nightmarishly1891 God almighty1906 Christ almighty1945 1636 H. Blount Voy. Levant 109 I noted them so desperate malicious towards one another. 1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 120 I shewed them how desperately ill I was. 1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. iii. ii. 186 The road..was desperate bad. 1853 C. Dickens Bleak House lvii. 546 It's a desperate sharp night for a young lady to be out in. 1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) (at cited word) ‘I'm despert glad to see you.’ This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022). desperatev. Brit. /ˈdɛspəreɪt/, U.S. /ˈdɛspəˌreɪt/ Etymology: < desperate adj. rare. transitive. To render or drive desperate. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > render desperate [verb (transitive)] despair1393 desperate1801 1801 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 376 My ideas of perfection desperate attempt. 1842 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 159 Desperated by the notion of confessing myself ill. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.adv.1483v.1801
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desperateadj.n.adv.

desperatev.