DictionaryRoot: sperare
Latin
sperare
hope
2 / 3
adjective
desperate
DES-puh-rut/ˈdespərət/
Driven by overwhelming need or a loss of hope.
Etymology
The pieces express being without hope. Applied to people, this developed from hopelessness into being driven by despair to disregard safety or consequences—the urgency felt when no good options seem left.