desperation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   desperate recklessness

   it was a policy of desperation

2. 2
   noun

   The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.

   in desperation

3. 3
   noun

   A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope.

   The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.

4. 4
   noun

   Reckless fury.

   "The PM’s private reassurances are worthless given her track record of u-turns and her clear desperation to cling to power."

5. 5
   noun

   a state in which all hope is lost or absent

6. 6
   noun

   Ellipsis of bladder desperation.

Etymology

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.