■ adjective
1》 feeling, showing, or involving despair.
↘tried in despair or when everything else has failed.
2》 extremely bad or serious: a ~ shortage.
3》 (often ~ for/to do ) having a great need or desire for something.
4》 violent or dangerous: a ~ criminal.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from L. desperatus 'deprived of hope', past participle of desperare (see despair ).