1. (a.) With little hope; on a last resort.

2. (a.) Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.

3. (a.) Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort.

4. (a.) Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality.

5. (n.) One desperate or hopeless.