I. (ˈ)sə|spekt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere to suspect — more at suspect IV
1. : regarded with suspicion : distrusted, suspected
the suspect drugs were removed from the market — Vivian Boardman
religion has been academically suspect — George Hedley
the idea of independence was suspect — E.S.Atiyah
2. : having the nature or status of a suspicious person or thing : provocative or worthy of suspicion : suspicious
hold one suspect until his innocence is proved
treat all innovation as suspect — A.T.Quiller-Couch
he has been suspect to many members of his own party — Time
II. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
: one who is suspected ; especially : one suspected of a crime or of being infected
question a murder suspect
examine a tuberculous suspect
III. ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin suspectus act of suspecting, from Latin, act of looking up at, from suspectus, past participle of suspicere to look up at, suspect
archaic : the act of suspecting or the condition of being suspected : suspicion , apprehension
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English suspecten, from Latin suspectare, intens. of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub- from below, up + specere to look, look at — more at sub- , spy
transitive verb
1. : to have doubts of : be dubious or suspicious about : distrust
suspects the motives of the salesman of goods or of ideas — Louis Wirth
suspect loud, unaccustomed noises as possible sources of danger — Elaine W. Gould
2. : to imagine (one) to be guilty or culpable on slight evidence or without proof
suspect one of a theft
suspect one of giving false information
no one had hitherto suspected him of statecraft — John Buchan
3. : to imagine to be or be true, likely, or probable : have a suspicion, intimation, or inkling, of : surmise
we never suspect the disease because the attack amounts to nothing more than a bad headache — Monsanto Magazine
when I know that he is honest and suspect that he is right — H.L.Mencken
detective stories, which, however bad, I always enjoy since I never suspect the solution — H.J.Laski
4. obsolete
a. : to expect with dread : have an apprehension of
b. : respect , note , heed
intransitive verb
: to imagine something to be true or likely : be suspicious