Her life was for some time Despaired of, and it was months before she recovered her health; but she never had perfectly recovered her mind: it still remained unsettled with respect to her lover's fate.
"Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorists"
Washington Irving
Many a good breeding animal has been lost in this way, and gone to the butcher, their owner having Despaired of getting them in calf; whereas, if he had had patience until September or October, when the cold weather sets in, in all likelihood they would have been got in calf.
"Cattle and Cattle-breeders"
William M'Combie
I had Despaired of doing so myself!"
"The Sins of Séverac Bablon"
Sax Rohmer