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.
Des"per*ate, n. One desperate or
hopeless. [Obs.]
