desperado
UK: ˌdespəˈrɑːdəʊ | US: ˌdespəˈrɑːdoʊ
n. a bold or violent criminal, especially one from the past in the American West
n. (archaic) a desperate or reckless person
desperado = desper<desperate> + ado<noun suffix (Spanish origin)>
- desper<desperate>: Derived from Latin desperatus (past participle of desperare, "to despair"), combining de- (completely) + sperare (to hope). In English, "desperate" implies extreme recklessness or hopelessness.
- ado<noun suffix>: A Spanish suffix (e.g., tornado, bravado) used to form nouns indicating a person or thing associated with the root word. Here, it marks someone characterized by desperation.
Etymology Origin:
Borrowed from Spanish desesperado (desperate person), the word entered English in the 17th century, initially retaining its Spanish spelling. Over time, it was anglicized to desperado and became associated with outlaw figures in the American frontier, reflecting their reckless, lawless behavior. The suffix -ado subtly preserves its Romance-language roots while adapting to English phonetics.
The town sheriff vowed to capture the notorious desperado terrorizing the valley.
In classic Western films, the desperado often meets a dramatic end.
He lived like a desperado, fleeing from one crime to another.
The novel’s protagonist was a reformed desperado seeking redemption.
Legends of Mexican desperados still echo in borderland folklore.