n. & v.
n. a conjecture or suspicion about the existence or truth of something.
v. 1 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) infer doubtfully; make a surmise about. 2 tr. suspect the existence of. 3 intr. make a guess.
[ ME f. AF & OF fem. past part. of surmettre accuse f. LL supermittere supermiss- (as SUPER-, mittere send) ]