desperate a Cp OED ~ a 7 'hopelessly or extremely bad' (1604-1814). Disturbing; shocking; beyond description.
   1888 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 35 About noon we had two or three desperate showers of rain accompanied by a few very loud claps of thunder. [1959] P 245-76 [He said] 'How dare these outsiders come into this decent Christian province and by such desperate, such terrible methods try to seize control of our province's main industry!' P 148-63 The desperate sight of the light in the lodge [saddened the college]. P 78-76 The weather is desperate! P 108-76 The road is in a desperate state after all that rain. P 148-76 [The people are upset about] the desperate lack of medical care in the region.

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