desperate (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[desperate 词源字典]
early 15c., "despairing, hopeless," from Latin desperatus "given up, despaired of," past participle of desperare (see despair (v.)). Sense of "driven to recklessness" is from late 15c.; weakened sense of "having a great desire for" is from 1950s. Related: Desperately.[desperate etymology, desperate origin, 英语词源]