desperation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A feeling of having no hope that makes you ready to do anything.

   In desperation, she called every hospital in the city.

2. 2
   noun

   Reckless behaviour caused by having no hope left.

   It was an act of pure desperation.

From Middle English desperacion, desperacioun, desperation, disparacion, disperacion, disperacioun, dispiracioune, dysperacioun, from Middle French desperation and its etymon Latin dēspērātiō, dēspērātiōnis. By surface analysis, desperate + -ion.

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