suspicionn.
/səˈspɪʃən/ 1. † c. transferred. A ground of suspicion; a suspicious circumstance. Obsolete.
a. The action of suspecting; the feeling or state of mind of one who suspects; imagination or conjecture of the existence of something evil or wrong without proof; apprehension of guilt or fault on slight grounds or without clear evidence.In early use often qualified by evil, wicked, false.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun]
ortrowthc1175
ortrowa1200
untrust?c1225
suspicion1303
suspectiona1340
mistrowa1375
overtrowa1375
misfaitha1382
jealousyc1385
suspectc1386
misdoubtingc1390
untrist1390
mistrowinga1393
mistrusta1393
mistrista1400
supposinga1400
untrestc1400
wantrustc1405
diffidencea1425
misdeemingc1450
untrustingc1450
discredence?a1475
surmise1509
suspensea1513
diffidency1537
distrust1548
distrusting1549
misdoubt1558
discredit1567
misgiving1582
scruple1597
disconfidence1620
inconfidence1627
disaffiance1631
non-fiance1643
defiance1662
suspiciencya1690
reservation1719
disfaith1870
méfiance1876
α.
β. a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 311 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1673 Qua has..suspicioun in þoȝt þai haue lefte ese.c1450 Mirk's Festial 286 Fals defamacyon, fals suspicyon.1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxvi That the duke & all that came with hym, should be taken as hys trew frendes, without fraude or yll suspicion.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxvv Many times woulde they come into the Citie, neither wanted that thinge great suspicion.a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 37 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) He..may under his mantle go privily armed without suspition of any.1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋1 It is welcommed with suspicion in stead of loue.1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. v. §6. 84 There seems to be very strong ground of suspition that some such thing was designed by Manetho.a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1679 (1955) IV. 174 Their testimony..sworne positively to some particulars, which drew suspicion upon their truth.1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 79. ⁋1 Suspicion..has always been considered, when it exceeds the common measures, as a token of depravity.1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 221 No one may be discovered to whom suspicion attaches.1889 C. R. Markham Life J. Davis (1891) xiii. 229 The story is continued by Habakkuk Prickett, whose narrative is open to some suspicion.personified.1608 G. Markham & L. Machin Dumbe Knight iv. sig. G4 Thou curse of greatnesse, waking ei'd suspition.1609 B. Jonson Masque of Queens 56, in Wks. (1616) 948 Wild Suspition, Whose eyes doe neuer sleepe.1613 J. Marston Insatiate Countesse iii, in Wks. (1856) III. 143 Suspition is a dogge that still doth bite With~out a cause.1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth IV. 47 Suspicion hath double Eyes.1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. v. iii. 237 There sharpest gazes Suspicion into the pale dim World-Whirlpool.1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 3971 Enuyus man ys so ful of susspecyun Þat euyl hym þenketh al, as a felun.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 3487 When þou supposes any wykkednes, Thurgh suspecion, þar na es.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 40 Ȝif..here wyues ben of sich age þat noon euyl suspecion may be reysed of hem.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes ii. xxxvii. 155 Som signe wherby eny suspecion may be had.
b. An instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun] > instance of
suspicionc1384
suspect1541
scruple1600
umbrage1604
gain-givinga1616
inkling1620
surmise1719
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 4 Enuyes, stryues, blasfemyes, yuele suspiciouns.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvi. liii. 854 Iacinctus..doþ away elyngenes and sorwe and also veyn suspeciouns [a1450 Bodl. suspessiouns].
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xiv. 92 He beleuand to keip hym fra ane gritar suspetione.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. iii. sig. J.ij/2 They of olde time did cleare themselues of heinous suspicions by taking of an othe.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 191 Svspicions amongst Thoughts, are like Bats amongst Birds, they euer fly by Twilight.
1678 R. L'Estrange tr. Of Anger x. 103 in Seneca's Morals Abstracted (1679) Nor is it only by Tales, and Stories, that we are Inflam'd, but Suspicions, Countenances..[are] enough to blow us up.
1792 E. Burke Corr. (1844) III. 370 To lie under those criminal suspicions would be still more grievous to them than the penalties themselves.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth xii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 330 If you leave me without any better reason but your own nonsensical suspicions.
1873 Minutes of Evid. Nairne Peerage 129 in Sessional Papers House of Lords (H.L. A) XII. 65 I have a suspicion that Mrs. Sandeman is suffering from organic disease of the heart.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun] > basis of
suspect1592
suspicion1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 186 1. Heers a Fryer with tooles about him, Fitte to ope a tombe. Cap: A great suspition . View more context for this quotation
1687 T. Brown Saints in Uproar in Wks. (1730) I. 81 I find you go by different names, a shrewd suspicion of your being cheats.
2. Constructions and phrases.† b. Const. of the thing of which some evil is suspected. Obsolete.† f. in suspicion: (a) suspecting; (b) suspected. to have in suspicion: to suspect. to bring in or into suspicion: to cause to be suspected. to enter into suspicion with: to become suspicious of. Obsolete.Cf. quot. a1340 at sense 4.
a. Const. of (†in, †to, †upon) the person of whom some evil is suspected.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun] > without evidence
suspicionc1290
conjecture1535
misprision1657
α.
β. 1590 E. Spenser Muiopotmos 377 Suspition of friend, nor feare of foe..had he at all.1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 i. iii. 209 For that these words..Doth breed suspition on the part of Yorke.1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth x, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 264 You do wrong even to intimate a suspicion of my Lord of March.c1290 St. Sebastian 29 in S. Eng. Leg. 179 Ich habbe to þe suspecion..Þat þov aȝen me..Itorned hast þi þouȝt.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde v. 1647 Stod on a day in his malencolye This Troylus and yn suspecion Of here for whom he wende for to dye.
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 583 Hem that hadden wronge suspecion Vpon this sely Innocent Custance.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 89 The king..had no maner suspecion To hem of their fals treason.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iii. 102 He vnderstode that the parents and frendes of them had suspecion in hym.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxxii. 46 Desyring hym to haue no suspecyons to hym.
?1533 [see sense 2d]. ΚΠ
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1290 This dido hath suspescioun of this And thoughte wel that it was al a-mys.
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋380 Whan he hath any wikked suspecion of thyng ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2474 Þouȝe I suspecioune Have of yeur wordis.
1652 N. Culpeper Eng. Physitian Enlarged (1656) 397 [This] may seem to give some suspition of honesty.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 312 In order to increase the suspicions already entertained of his generalship.
c. Const. of the evil suspected.
ΚΠ
a1350 St. Andrew 392 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 9 Lat me ett els whore so þou will, For drede of sum suspecion of ill.
1421 26 Pol. Poems 82 In towche is susspescioun of mys.
1483–4 Act 1 Rich. III c. 3 Dyvers persones ben..imprisoned for suspecion of felonie.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxxixv Which nation was euer furthest of from all suspecion of Heresye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. iv. 27 Malcolme, and Donalbaine..Are stolne away and fled, which puts vpon them Suspition of the deed. View more context for this quotation
1631 E. Jorden Disc. Nat. Bathes Ded. sig. A3v Haue remoued out of my minde all suspition of misconstruction.
1686 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 176 Luke Watson Lay under suspition of being Carnally Concerned with a Woman Servt.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxvii. 37 The council of Milan obstinately rejected the suspicion of danger, with a blind confidence.
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. v. 153 I..was about to relate my suspicions of the fate of his wife and child.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. i. 5 A minute description of my own person such as would at once clear me from any suspicion of vanity.
d. to †have, take, occasionally bear suspicion: to entertain a suspicion. (Now only to have a, any, no, etc. suspicion, or suspicions.) †to give one suspicion: to cause one to suspect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase]
to have, take, occasionally bear suspicion13..
to have or hold (a person or thing) suspectc1380
to have (or hold) in suspectc1386
to have supposinga1400
to enter into suspicion with1471
to have in suspicion1471
to have in jealousy1523
to smell a ratc1540
to smell a fox1599
to be or look shy on or at1837
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase] > cause to
to bring in or into suspicion1471
to give one suspicionc1515
13.. K. Alis. 453 Þeo barouns haddyn suspecioun.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 561 As I was comynge Al sodeynly he lefte his compleynynge. Of which I toke somwhat suspecion.
c1450 Mirk's Festial 10 Nay, syr, not so, lest men wold haue suspessyon of euell.
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 44v She..had suspecion that he wold do harme to Jupiter.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxv. 222 To thentent that he take in you no suspecyon.
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Tiv Whiche might be occasyon To gyue you suspicion.
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 257 More for that none should doo to them any harme, then for any euill suspition they had of them.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. I4v To cleare her From that suspicion which the world might bear her. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) i. ii. 460 His ill-ta'ne suspition.
1685 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 439 Under pretence to serve the Church of England, he gave suspicion of grat<y>fing another party.
e. †of suspicion: that is (to be) suspected, suspicious. †without (or but) suspicion: without being suspected, unsuspected. †out of all suspicion: beyond all doubt. upon or on suspicion (†by suspicion): on the basis of mere supposition (of evil or wrongdoing). above suspicion: too good or worthy to be suspected of evil.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [adjective] > unquestioned
without (or but) suspicion1340
unsuspectc1380
unsuspecteda1586
insuspect1606
suspectless1606
unimpugned1838
above suspicion1850
swallowed1887
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective] > arousing or deserving of suspicion
suspecta1300
of suspicion1340
suspect1340
suspicious1340
untrusted1552
suspectiousa1558
suspected1559
suspected to1571
mistrusted1592
mistrustful1593
suspectful1603
slight1607
suspicable1614
distrustful1618
suspicionable1692
jealoused1695
suspectable1748
untrustable1862
funny1903
sus1958
hinky1961
sussy1965
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adverb] > on the basis of suspicion
upon or on suspicion (by suspicion)1514
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > not to be suspected of evil
above suspicion1850
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1652 Or it es a signe of suspecyon Þat he es in way of dampnacyon.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 555 For I but suspicioun Micht repair till hir preuely.
1514 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 101 Uppon suspicion he was taken by the Popis commandment and sett in Castill Angill.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 81 Not wythout cause apon suspycyon only every man may frely accuse other of treson.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxviij Many were apprehended, some by information, and some by suspicion.
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie ii. sig. C2 Thy kinsman..being..brought before a Iustice vppon suspition of his wretched liuing.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 221 Bring forth the parties in suspition.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. iii. 154 Shees an excellent sweete lady, and (out of all suspition,) she is vertuous. View more context for this quotation
1662 T. Blount Boscobel (new ed.) ii. 8 She procur'd Him the better Chamber and Accomodation without any suspition.
1683 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 84 To aprehend some persons upon suspition of putting away of bad money.
1772 Jacob's Law Dict. (at cited word) A person may be taken up on suspicion, where a felony is done.
1850 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire I. iv. 170 The wife of Cæsar must be above suspicion.
1867 Philatelist 1 Jan. 18/1 The rare red-brown sixpenny Barbados, unperforated,..is not altogether above suspicion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective]
ortrowOE
truthlessa1200
untristc1374
mistrusty?a1425
overtrowinga1425
diffidenta1460
in suspicion1471
suspicionous1474
suspectious1521
mistrustful1529
surmising1535
distrusting1549
trustless?1550
mistrusting1552
misgiving1567
suspectfula1586
misdoubtful1596
distrustfula1600
shy1600
misdoubting1601
scrupulous1608
jealousa1616
umbratiousa1639
inconfident1667
suspecting1691
unconfiding1820
untrusting1861
defiant1872
leery1896
suspicionful1911
hincty1929
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase]
to have, take, occasionally bear suspicion13..
to have or hold (a person or thing) suspectc1380
to have (or hold) in suspectc1386
to have supposinga1400
to enter into suspicion with1471
to have in suspicion1471
to have in jealousy1523
to smell a ratc1540
to smell a fox1599
to be or look shy on or at1837
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > suspect, distrust [phrase] > cause to
to bring in or into suspicion1471
to give one suspicionc1515
1471 Arriv. Edw. IV (Camden) 10 Hymselfe was had in great suspicion.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. xviii They..shall euer lyue ryȝte heuyly and in suspycon.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxvii. 539 Thei wolde not slepe, but were euer in susspecion of the saisnes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxjv This kyng Iames from his firste rule, began to entre into suspicion with William Erle Douglas.
a1555 J. Bradford in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. App. xlv. 131 I declare nothinge to bringe these Noblemen into Suspition.
1561 T. Hoby Breef Rehersall in tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer sig. Zz.iii To commit no vice, nor yet to be had in suspition of any vice.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 121 They were had in suspicion to be great Brybers.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) v. ii. 29 This Newes..is so like an old Tale, that the veritie of it is in strong suspition.
?a1645 A. Stafford Just Apol. in Life Blessed Virgin (1860) p. xxii Hee that..bringes my Faith to God in suspition.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 338 He hoped they would not blame the well-known Reputation of the House of Austria, or have him in suspition, now desiring to be the Author of Peace.
1755 N. Magens Ess. Insurances I. 269 It is not to be presumed that the meadows could be had in Suspicion, for it was never yet to be discovered, that the cause of the Distemper proceeded from the Ground.
3. gen. Imagination of something (not necessarily evil) as possible or likely; a slight belief or idea of something, or that something is the case; a surmise; a faint notion, an inkling. (Chiefly in negative context.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > supposition, surmise > [noun] > instance
suspicionc1460
supposal1511
supposition1565
suppose1573
surmise1590
supposure1613
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 3831 And ȝit had I nevir suspecioun,..Who did þat cursid dede.
1482 Monk of Evesham 59 I neuyr herde before nether hadde any suspycyon hethirto that the kynde of wemen hadde be deprauyd..by suche a foule synne.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 86 The Earle of Douglas..was remaining thair..witht out ony suspetionnis of Schir William Creichtounis gaddering.
1653 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis (rev. ed.) vii. 132 A round white..Chin, the Candor whereof seems to introduce into the beholders mind, a certaine suspition of a Rosie colour.
a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 6 Nott so much as either his sister or mine had the least suspittion of it.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 30 There being..not the least Suspicion, or Imagination, that the Marriage would not Succeed.
1718 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) Ded. The natural Endowments of Your Mind, (which, without suspicion of Flattery) I may tell You, are very Great.
1752 D. Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 550 This may beget a little suspicion, that even animals depend not on the climate.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. v. 524 Tippoo..and M. Lally..surrounded Colonel Braithwaite before he had received even a suspicion of their march.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xiii. 168 ‘Can you conjecture the cause of the present trouble?’ ‘I have a suspicion.’
1908 Expositor July 20 There was no previous suspicion of her future destiny in the Virgin's mind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] > accompanied by fear
feara1300
suspiciona1340
dreadc1400
suspectc1400
dreadourc1540
apprehensiona1616
the mind > emotion > fear > apprehension > [noun] > apprehension
doubta1225
feara1300
werea1300
suspiciona1340
doubtancea1400
suspectc1400
dwerec1440
suspensec1440
doubting1486
frayed1536
doubtfulness1576
pain1582
preapprehension1628
apprehension1656
alarm1733
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxviii[i]. 39 Smyte away my reprofe þat i had in suspecion [L. quod suspicatus sum].
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xviii. 315 [They] haueþ suspecion to be saf, boþe sarrasyns and Iewes, Thorwe Moyses and makamede.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 197v I entered into a great suspition of my lyfe.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 275 The successe of al things..was answerable to our suspicion.
1658 Tradit. Mem. K. James 44 So high a suspicion of the immense Treasure.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1666 (1955) III. 462 There being in truth, greate suspicion some days before, of those two nations joyning.
1690 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) V. 25 Upon their suspicion that he might at last come into the German Princes Confederacy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun] > of some quality > slight
gleam?c1225
glimpsea1547
suspicion1565
umber1573
umbrage1604
umbrationa1706
shima1800
1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare xii. 466 M. Harding, not shewing vs any suspition, or token of inordinate Heate in that Reuerende Maister of the Churche of God.
6. A slight or faint trace, very small amount, ‘hint’, ‘suggestion’ (of something).This use apparently arose as an englishing of soupçon n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount > a slight touch or trace
specec1330
taste1390
lisounc1400
savourc1400
smatcha1500
smell?a1505
spice1531
smack1539
shadow1586
surmise1586
relish1590
tang1593
touch1597
stain1609
tincture1612
dasha1616
soula1616
twanga1640
whiff1644
haut-goût1650
casta1661
stricturea1672
tinge1736
tinct1752
vestige1756
smattering1764
soupçon1766
smutch1776
shade1791
suspicion1809
lineament1811
trait1815
tint1817
trace1827
skiff1839
spicing1844
smudgea1871
ghost1887
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. viii. iii. 257 As for polite literature..there was not even a suspicion of it in all their talk.
1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner v. 50 Flip,..made with beer and sugar, and a certain suspicion of strong waters.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. iv. 107 He was a wall-eyed horse, with a suspicion of spavin.
Derivatives
suˈspicional adj. pertaining to suspicion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective] > characterized by suspicion
suspicious1478
sinistrous1566
suspicional1890
1890 Alien. & Neurol. XI. 347 The same emotional mobility and suspicional tendencies which characterized her gifted son.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun] > action of distrusting
mistrustinga1450
surmising1526
fearing1546
suspicionatinga1637
diffiding1658
suspecting1691
a1637 N. Ferrar tr. J. de Valdés 110 Considerations (1638) 311 The suspicionating, which is as it were a fearing even when it is of the holy spirit.
suˈspicionful adj. = suspicious adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [adjective]
ortrowOE
truthlessa1200
untristc1374
mistrusty?a1425
overtrowinga1425
diffidenta1460
in suspicion1471
suspicionous1474
suspectious1521
mistrustful1529
surmising1535
distrusting1549
trustless?1550
mistrusting1552
misgiving1567
suspectfula1586
misdoubtful1596
distrustfula1600
shy1600
misdoubting1601
scrupulous1608
jealousa1616
umbratiousa1639
inconfident1667
suspecting1691
unconfiding1820
untrusting1861
defiant1872
leery1896
suspicionful1911
hincty1929
1911 H. S. Harrison Queed (1914) xxiii. 305 That suspicionful scrutiny so galling to men of spirit.
suˈspicionless adj. devoid of suspicion, unsuspecting.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [adjective] > accepting without question
mistrustless1586
unsuspicious1586
unmistrustful1587
unmistrusting1595
unsuspecting1595
unsuspicious1595
suspectless1605
implicit faith1610
distrustless1611
confidenta1616
suspicionlessc1650
undistrustful1654
unspeculative1660
unquestioning1697
unsuspectful1781
pin-faith1800
questionless1821
unspeculating1828
unsceptical1851
round-heeled1920
pistic1923
c1650 Don Bellianis 106 Altogether suspicionlesse of any such treason.
1824 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 15 168 I, poor dupe, suspicionless.
1840 J. Galt Demon of Destiny 7 As mourning mortals tell, Suspicionless, to old confiding friends, Disastrous tidings.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1918; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
suspicionv.
dialect and colloquial (originally U.S.).1834 Kentuckian in New York I. 64 They began to suspicion, maybe, that they had got the wrong sow by the ear.1839 F. Marryat Diary in Amer. II. 212 I suspicion as much.a1845 in C. Cist Cincinnati Misc. 127 Accusing me of suspicioning him of a wish to rob me.1853 Louisville (Kentucky) Democrat It was considered ‘treason’ almost to suspicion him of a mean transaction.1864 J. C. Atkinson Stanton Grange 219 They suspicioned all wasn't reet.1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer xxvi. 202 Anybody would suspicion us that saw us.1902 Academy 5 Apr. 359 We suspicion a whiff of democracy in this.1916 H. L. Wilson Somewhere in Red Gap ii. 68 Wilbur says I'm too good, not suspicioning. I'm just being wily, so he says he'll write up and fix it.1919 J. Buchan Mr. Standfast xxi. 386 If the Boche once suspicions how little he's got before him the game's up.1937 ‘C. S. Forester’ Happy Return xxii. 259 He is in need of distraction, I suspicion.1938 S. Beckett Murphy iii. 32 Intense Love nature prominent, rarely suspicioning the Nasty.1946 S. J. Perelman in New Yorker 5 Jan. 21/3 Our nineteen-year-old son, which he's home from Yale on his midyears and don't suspicion that his folks are rifting.1959 Observer 22 Mar. 23/6 The major is no fool, and he suspicions as quickly as the audience that the presumed Englishman is a wounded Hungarian on the run.1961 R. P. Hobson Rancher takes Wife (1962) viii. 114 I quite often suspicioned this trait of Gloria's but when I found it out for sure it was almost too late.1973 ‘D. Shannon’ No Holiday for Crime (1974) vi. 88 I suspicioned what she was, but I didn't have no proof.
1. transitive. To suspect. (With simple object or object clause) Quot. a1637 appears to be a fortuitous occurrence unrelated to later uses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > mistrust, suspect [verb (transitive)]
mistrowOE
overtrowa1225
ortrow?c1225
susposea1325
souchec1325
supposec1384
mistrestc1415
mistrusta1425
mistraista1450
suspecta1500
mistrust1565
misdoubt1570
surmisec1571
fear1578
diffide1583
doubt1586
uncredit1615
disdoubt1659
jealouse1682
jalouse1816
suspicion1834
sus1953
a1637 N. Ferrar tr. J. de Valdés 110 Considerations (1638) 310 Suspicioning of himselfe, that if he should grow negligent, he might come to loose his magnanimity.
2. absol. or intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > be mistrustful, suspect [verb (intransitive)]
ortrowOE
souche1338
defyc1380
mistrusta1382
distrust1430
misdeema1450
misgive1567
misdoubt1580
suspect1593
savour1594
disconfide1627
suspicion1905
1905 R. Kipling Actions & Reactions (1909) 40 An' d'you mean to tell me you never suspicioned?
1946 C. McCullers Member of Wedding iii. 173 In those bridge games..nobody ever drew a good hand, the cards were all sorry, and no high bids made—until finally Berenice suspicioned, saying: ‘Less us get busy and count these old cards.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1918; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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n.c1290
v.a1637