Suspect

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SUSPECTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SUSPECTING.] [Lat. suspicere, suspectum, from sub, under, and specere, to look, view; Fr. suspecter, Pr. & Sp. sospechar, Pg. sospeitar, It. sospettare, sospicare, suspicare, Lat. suspectare, v. intens. from suspicere.]

1Sense 1. To imagine to exist; to have a slight opinion of the existence of, without proof, and often upon weak evidence, or no evidence at all; to mistrust.

Nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little. Bacon.

From her hand I could suspect no ill. Milton.

2Sense 2. To imagine to be guilty upon slight evidence, or without proof; as, to suspect one of equivocation or dishonesty.

3Sense 3. To hold to be uncertain; to doubt; to mistrust; as, to suspect the truth of a story.

Synonyms—To mistrust; distrust; surmise; doubt.

v. i. To imagine guilt; to have a suspicion, or suspicions. If I suspect without cause, why, then, let me be your jest. Shak.

n. [L. Lat. suspectus, for suspicio. See SUSPICION.] Suspicion. [Obs.] “So with suspect, with fear and grief, dismayed.” Fairfax.