See Also: desperate(medicine)
desperate(1)(dictionary)
desperate(2)(dictionary)
desperate(dictionary)
Desperate Dan(dictionary)
desperate(dictionary)
DESPERATE(law)

desperate(1) (iou)



desperate adjective & adverb. LME.
[Latin desperatus pa. pple of desperare: see DESPAIR verb.]
A. adjective.
I.
In despair, despairing (of). arch. LME.
Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona I am desperate of obtaining her.
Given up as hopeless. Now chiefly of a debt: not recoverable. LME.
Leaving little or no room for hope; extremely grave or dangerous. L15.
Swift Younger brothers of obscure families, and others of desperate fortunes. J. M. Murry His suffering from Tom's desperate illness. N. Monsarrat The food situation on the island had now become so desperate that it had overtaken even the bombing as the worst misery of their lives.
b. Of an undertaking etc.: hopeless of accomplishment. M17-L19.
Expressive or indicative of despair. M16.
Disraeli He was answered only with desperate sobs.
II.
Driven to desperation, reckless from despair; heedless of danger; violent, lawless. L15.
J. Buchan The party who wish to upset the republic are pretty desperate fellows. C. S. Forester 'Put it down, d'ye hear?' said Hornblower, desperate with worry.
b. Utterly careless of. rare. Only in E17.
c. Having an extreme need or great anxiety for, to do. M20.
M. Moorcock I was desperate to talk my way clear of this terrible man. Daily Telegraph A university graduate so desperate for work that he travels 240 miles a day.
a. Outrageous, extravagant; shocking. M16.
b. Extremely bad; extreme, excessive, awful. E17.
Pope Concluding all were desp'rate sots and fools, Who durst depart from Aristotle's rules. Day Lewis We did not go in for a desperate amount of washing. M. Binchy Wasn't it desperate the way things never come singly.
Characterized by the recklessness, violence, or resolution of despair; undertaken in desperation as a last resort; staking all on a small chance. L16.
Milton His look denounc'd Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous To less than Gods. Ld Macaulay A desperate conflict against overwhelming odds.
b. Involving serious risk. L16-M17.
b. adverb. Desperately. M17.
Dickens It's a desperate sharp night for a young lady to be out in.