desperatenessn.
The state or quality of being desperate.† 1. The state of being in despair. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [noun] > loss of hope
desperance?c1225
wanhopinga1300
despairc1325
desperationc1366
desespeirc1374
desesperancec1374
despairing1489
desperateness1581
despairfulness1888
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) iii. 149 They will..be to rough..to their children..[which] driveth them to desperatenesse.
a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) i. iv. 21 Caine was possessed with a mixture of desperatenesse and murmuring.
2.
a. The state or quality of being beyond hope (or of having extremely small chance) of recovery or improvement; hopelessness, irremediableness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [noun] > beyond recovery
desperateness1571
remedilessness1601
irremediablenessa1631
incurability1632
incurableness1634
unrelievableness1654
insanability1659
irreparableness1727
curelessness1892
irredressibility1892
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxxvii. 4) When a man refuseth understanding, it is a signe of desperatenesse.
a1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhemists New Test. (1618) 571 You bewray the desperatenesse of your cause.
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (lxxxviii. 3–4 Paraphr.) 435 The deplorablenesse and desperatenesse of my condition.
1866 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. IX. xxi. 366 He awoke to the desperateness of his situation.
b. The state or quality of being beyond hope of attainment or accomplishment.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [noun]
desperationc1366
desperateness1667
hopelessness1808
lornness1866
1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety viii. 166 Hope being equally out-dated by the desperateness or unnecessariness of an undertaking.
1677 W. Hubbard Narr. Troubles with Indians New-Eng. 54 The desperateness of the attempt.
3. The rashness or fury of despair; recklessness = desperation n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > rashness or recklessness > recklessness induced by despair
desperation1531
desperateness1549
desperacy1800
desperadoism1874
1549 J. Cheke Hurt of Sedicion sig. H3v If for desperatenes, ye care not for youre selues, yet remembre youre wyues, your children, your contrey.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre ii. xvii. 67 Loth to anger their enemies valour into desperatenesse.
1657 Lusts Dominion ii. iv. sig. C9v You are too rash, you are too hot, Wild desperateness doth valour blot.
1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra iii. xii. 185 'Tis rashness or desperateness, and not true Courage.
1963 Times 30 May 17/4 The people had the will and desperateness—they held out.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.1549