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