Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Desperate
1.
Without hope; given to despair; hopeless.
[Obs.]
I am
desperate
of obtaining her. Shakespeare
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;
“Desperate expedients.” as, a
. desperate
effortMacaulay.
4.
Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; – used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality.
A
desperate
offendress against nature. Shakespeare
Syn. – Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic.
Des′per-ate
,Noun.
One desperate or hopeless.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Desperate
DESPERATE
,Adj.
1.
Without hope.I am desperate of obtaining her.
2.
Without care of safety; rash; fearless of danger; as a desperate man. Hence, 3.
Furious, as a man in despair.4.
Hopeless; despaired of; lost beyond hope of recovery; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn. We speak of a desperate case of disease, desperate fortunes, a desperate situation or condition.5.
In a popular sense, great in the extreme; as a desperate sot or fool.