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# desperate

adjective (desperate; more desperate, most desperate)

«desperate» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Feeling that you have little hope and will do anything to change the situation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#m1)
2. Wanting or needing something very much: «desperate for a drink». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#m2)
3. Very serious or dangerous: «a desperate situation». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#m3)
4. Done as a last try with little chance of success: «a desperate attempt». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#m4)
5. (informal, UK) «Desperate for the loo» means needing the toilet very badly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#m5)

### In the lessons

In stories desperate characters take risks; a desperate search or desperate escape shows great danger. In everyday talk children say «I'm desperate for a drink» or «desperate to go» to mean they badly want something. Phrases: «desperate for», «desperate to», «desperate measures», «desperate times call for desperate measures», «in desperate need».

### Examples

- The lost hikers were desperate for water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x1)
- I'm desperate to see the new film. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x2)
- They made a desperate attempt to save the goal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x3)
- The family was in desperate need of food and shelter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x4)
- (informal) Stop the car, I'm desperate for the loo! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x5)
- Desperate times call for desperate measures. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x6)
- The kitten gave a desperate cry from the tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x7)
- Her case, on the contrary, looked more desperate than ever. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/#x8)

### Note

Spelled desp-e-rate (not «desparate»). Adverb: «desperately»; noun: «desperation». In safety: if you feel desperate or very sad, tell a trusted adult or call a helpline.

## In Jewish tradition

It means hopeless or in great pain, as in grief beyond cure.

**Interpretation.** Job complains that speeches of hopeless people are treated as wind, and tradition sees in Job a study of how to comfort the suffering.

### Examples

- Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind? (Writings JOB.6.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desperate/#x1)
- In the day of thy planting thou didst make it to grow, and in the morning thou didst make thy seed to blossom — a heap of boughs in the day of grief and of desperate pain. (Prophets ISA.17.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desperate/#x2)

### Note

Spelled desp-e-rate (not «desparate»). Adverb: «desperately»; noun: «desperation». In safety: if you feel desperate or very sad, tell a trusted adult or call a helpline.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «desperate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«desperate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desperate.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «desperate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desperate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«desperate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/desperate.html) on Mova free.