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Entry 5 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Desperate

/dĕs'-prĭt/ · Des·per·ate · IPA /ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹɪt/
01 a. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless.
  1. 1.
    Without hope; given to despair; hopeless.[Obs.]
    “I am desperate of obtaining her.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.
  3. 3.
    Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort.
  4. 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.
02 n. One desperate or hopeless.
  1. 1.
    One desperate or hopeless.[Obs.]