Middle English Dictionary Entry
desperāt adj.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | desperāt adj.(1) Also disperat. |
| Etymology | L dēspērātus ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Filled with despair, distressed; (b) ~ of, despairing of (help, life); ~ of joie, without hope of gladness, despondent; (c) holding out no hope, stern; (d) of a case, a disease: incurable; (e) of a debt: ?impossible to collect.
Associated quotations
a
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2636 : So stond I clene desperat, but ye con help ouȝt.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3493 : Desperate of mynde.
b
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)784 : My woful estat, Which wel ny was of helpe desperat.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)130/26 : Seke men, desperate of lyfe.
- c1450 ?Suffolk My best belouyd (Frf 16)12 : Myn hert..lythe in gret dystresse, Wyth-outyn help, of Ioy full desperate.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2523 : The toun in joy & wele is; But thooste withoute al in dolour & deel is, Al desperate of help.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)30 : I fill in þought, of ioy full desperat.
- a1500 My-self walkyng (Cmb Ff.1.6)2 : My-self walkyng all allone..of Ioy desperat, To my hert makyng my moone.
c
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1639 : By Mynos, the iuge of hell desperate, May he vndyrstand Goddes ryghtwysnes, That to euery wyght hys peyne deputate Assygneth.
d
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)86/15 : Vlcerez..desperate..and vnobedient to any medicyne.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.312 : If ony persoone of the seid felowschip haue ony cure disperat of the which is lykli to falle into deeth..that he schewe it to the maistris.
e
- (c1447) Let.Midylton in Lin.NQ 16198 : I left no det desperat.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1463) in Bull.IHR 3197 : Dettours as wele sperate as desperate.
Note: Belongs to sense (e) with added gloss to make it apply to persons: "of a debtor: insolvent, unable to repay."--per MJW