v. sus·pect·ed, sus·pect·ing, sus·pects v.tr. 1. To consider (something) to be true or probable on little or no evidence: I suspect they are very disappointed. 2. To have doubts about (something); distrust: I suspect his motives. 3. To consider (a person) guilty without proof: The police suspect her of murder. v.intr. To have suspicion. n. (sŭspĕkt′) One who is suspected, especially of having committed a crime. adj. (sŭspĕkt′, sə-spĕkt) Open to or viewed with suspicion: a suspect policy; suspect motives. [Middle English suspecten, from Old French suspecter, from Latin suspectāre, frequentative of suspicere, to look up at, suspect : su-, sub-, from below; see SUB- + specere, to look at; see spek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.