suspicion English · revision 10697

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=xno suspecioun|origins=la suspectio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /səˈspɪʃ.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|suspecioun]], Old French sospeçon, mistrust (modern soupçon),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin suspectiō, mistrust, fear,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from suspect-, past participle stem of suspicere, to look up at, mistrust (see [[suspect]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The English spelling was reshaped in the 14th century after Latin suspīciō and learned Old French forms.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of suspecting, mistrust on slight evidence: probably before 1300 as suspecioun, in Kyng Alisaunder;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1290 in the OED, of a person suspected of something.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling suspicioun is from 1375, in Barbour's Bruce.^(Barnhart 1988) A suspicious notion is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and imagining something as possible or likely from about 1400.^(Etymonline) A slight trace (''a suspicion of a smile'') is a later use.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD) The verb suspicion, to suspect, is dialect, recorded before 1820 in American English.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Suspicious'' is from 1340.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – suspecting a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – suspicious.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1375 – the spelling suspicioun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – a supposition.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1820 – to suspicion (dialect).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling or belief that something is wrong, or that someone is guilty, without sure proof.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The state of being suspected: ''under suspicion''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A feeling of [[mistrust]] or doubt.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A slight trace: ''a suspicion of garlic''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suspicional]]

+ * [[suspicious]]

+ * [[suspect]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spectacle]]

+ * [[soupçon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}