All 9 Uses

despair
in
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
(Edited)

When I saw how many were waiting, I would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear of it.
Chpt 2

despair = hopelessness
I tried to puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside until night should bring an explanation.
Chpt 2 *
It is said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is despaired of.
Chpt 4 *

despaired = thought hopeless
He looked across at my companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question was already answered.
Chpt 4

despair = hopelessness
This is no time for despair.
Chpt 5
She listened for an instant, threw up her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and as noiselessly as she had come.
Chpt 9

despairing = indicating hopelessness
A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pity.
Chpt 11

despair = hopelessness
"But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of despair.
Chpt 11
Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair.
Chpt 11

Definitions:

(1) (despair as in: she felt despair)
hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
(2) (despair as in: do not despair)
lose hope or feel distress
(3) (despair as in: she was the despair of the team)
something that causes hopelessness or great distress
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)