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.