Suspicion

Pronunciation

• IPA: /sÉ™.ˈspɪ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -ɪʃən

Alternative forms

• suspition obsolete

Origin

From Anglo‐French suspecioun, from Old French suspeçun or sospeçon, from Latin suspectionem, of the past participle from suspicere, from sub- ("up to") with specere ("to look at").

Full definition of suspicion

Noun

1. (act of suspecting something or someone, especially of something wrong)The act of suspecting something or someone, especially of something wrong.
2. The condition of being suspected.
3. Uncertainty, doubt.
4. A trace, or slight indication.a suspicion of a smile
• A. W. WardThe features are mild but expressive, with just a suspicion ... of saturnine or sarcastic humor.
5. The imagining of something without evidence.

Derived terms

• suspicious
• suspect
• sneaking suspicion

Verb

1. (nonstandard, dialect) To suspect; to have suspicions.
• Rudyard KiplingMulvaney continued— "Whin I was full awake the palanquin was set down in a street, I suspicioned, for I cud hear people passin' an' talkin'. But I knew well I was far from home. ...
• 2012, B. M. Bower, Cow-Country (page 195)"I've been suspicioning here was where they got their information right along," the sheriff commented, and slipped the handcuffs on the landlord.