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desperation

/ˌdɛspəˈɹeɪʃən/ noun

In Latin: desperatio Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about desperation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A state in which all hope is lost or absent.
    in the depths of despair
  2. Desperate recklessness.
    it was a policy of desperation

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)