desperatelyadv.
/ˈdɛspərətli/ In a desperate manner. (See the adjective.)† 1. In despair, despairingly. Obsolete.† 2. In a desperate condition, wretchedly. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [adverb]
wanhopefullyc1425
desperately1552
despairfully1604
hopelessly1616
despairinglya1634
lostly1660
unhopefully1840
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Desperately, desperanter, insolabiliter.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. i. f. 53 They had desperatly consecrated them selues to death.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxiv. 287 Your eldest daughters haue foredoome themselues, And desperatly are dead. View more context for this quotation
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 45 Taken at length by Tamberlaine..hee desperately brained himselfe.
1634 J. Canne Necessitie of Separation ii. 121 All these died despearately.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [adverb] > in a desperate condition
desperately1630
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 233 The descendants of them, that have..beene condemned by the Inquisition..live in Spaine most desperately.
3. Hopelessly, irretrievably, incurably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [adverb] > incurably
but recurec1425
remediless?a1525
incurably1529
irrecuperably1535
irreparably1545
uncurably1548
remedilessly1556
desperately1576
irrecoverably1589
irrecompensably1615
irremediably1624
irremediously1659
remedeless1850
curelessly1852
irredressibly1871
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 149 A yong Childe..lay desperatly sicke in a cradle.
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xvii. 9 The heart is deceitfull aboue all things, and desperately wicked [R.V. desperately sick] . View more context for this quotation
1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 187 The excluding of Men that are desperately wicked from joining in their Worship.
1767 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield (new ed.) II. ix. 147 I wounded one who first assaulted me, and I fear desperately.
a1808 R. Hurd Wks. VI. xvi. (R.) No man becomes at once desperately and irretrievably wicked.
4. Recklessly; with utter disregard of risks or consequences, or of how far one goes; with extreme energy or violence: cf. desperate adj. 4, 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adverb] > rashly or recklessly > due to despair
desperatelya1547
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Biii Whom when I saw..So desperatly the battail to desire.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iii. 130 Foure French Runnagats..hearing these words, fell desperatly upon me.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 188 20 gallies..desperatly adventured to tow her away against the wind.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 189 The Foot on both Sides were desperately engaged.
1885 Manch. Evening News 23 June 2/2 The..seats for which they have fought so desperately.
5. To a desperate degree; extremely, excessively. (Cf. desperate adj. 7) Chiefly colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [adverb]
hopelessly1616
desperately1653
deploredly1656
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
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures lxviii. 277 She was desperately in love with him.
1695 J. Collier Misc. upon Moral Subj. 127 He looks so desperately Pale, and Thin.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xiii. 183 They were desperately afraid the people should have too much knowledge.
1843 J. Foster Let. 22 June in Life & Corr. J. Foster (1846) II. 463 How desperately rapid the flight of time.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxxi. 418 She pretends to be desperately concerned about the horses.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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