desperationn.
/dɛspəˈreɪʃən/ 1. The action of despairing or losing all hope (of anything); the condition of having utterly lost hope; despair, hopelessness. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > [noun] > loss of hope
desperance?c1225
wanhopinga1300
despairc1325
desperationc1366
desespeirc1374
desesperancec1374
despairing1489
desperateness1581
despairfulness1888
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > despair, hopelessness > desperate state or condition > [noun]
desperationc1366
desperateness1667
hopelessness1808
lornness1866
c1366 G. Chaucer A.B.C. 20 A greevous accioun Of verrey riht and desperacioun.
c1375 XI Pains of Hell 226 in Old Eng. Misc. App. ii Disperacion of godis mercy, Of al þe payns in hel hit is most.
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋983 Whiche thynges destourben penaunce..drede, schame, hope, and wanhope, that is, desperacioun.
1490 Arte & Crafte to knowe well to Dye (Caxton) 4 To thende that he drawe him into disperacion.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxxiiijv For feare of losyng honor, and desperacion of gain.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Piiij Unbeliefe, desperation, whereby man falleth from God.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. 131 Horrour of deathe..and disperation of æternal blisse.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 190 A diffidence and desperation..of ever reaching to any eminent Invention.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 52. ⁋5 Sunk yet deeper in the dungeon of misery..and surrounded with darker desperation.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles xxvi. 357 The gracious Lord..could..[not] cure him, so long as there was this desperation of healing.
2. spec. Despair leading to recklessness, or recklessness arising from despair; a desperate state of mind in which, on account of the hopelessness or extremely small chance of success, one is ready to do any violent or extravagant action, regardless of risks or consequences. (Cf. desperate adj. 4, 5.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > rashness or recklessness > recklessness induced by despair
desperation1531
desperateness1549
desperacy1800
desperadoism1874
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. ix. sig. biv In desperation can nat be fortitude; for that beinge a morall vertue is euer voluntary; Desperation is a thinge as it were constrayned.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) iii. 131 She is then readie to follow, whatsoever wrath and desperation shall put in her head.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. iv. 55 + 1 The very place puts toyes of desperation Without more motiue, into euery braine That lookes so many fadoms to the sea And heares it rore beneath.
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent iv. i. 1322 A Deed of Desparation.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 150. ⁋4 Strength which would be unprofitably wasted in wild efforts of desperation.
1841–4 R. W. Emerson Hist. in Wks. (1906) I. 10 Needy and hungry to desperation.
1847 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall xi There was no use in driving him to desperation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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