Sus*pect" (?), a. [L. suspectus, p.p. of suspicere to look up, admire, esteem, to look at secretly or askance, to mistrust; sub under + specere to look: cf. F. suspect suspected, suspicious. See Spy, and cf. Suspicion.]
1.
Suspicious; inspiring distrust.
[Obs.]
Suspect [was] his face, suspect his word also.
Chaucer.
2.
Suspected; distrusted.
[Obs.]
What I can do or offer is suspect.
Milton.
© Webster 1913.
Sus*pect", n. [LL. suspectus. See Suspect, a.]
1.
Suspicion.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
So with suspect, with fear and grief, dismayed.
Fairfax.
2.
One who, or that which, is suspected; an object of suspicion; -- formerly applied to persons and things; now, only to persons suspected of crime.
Bacon.
© Webster 1913.
Sus*pect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suspected; p. pr. & vb. n. Suspecting.]
1.
To imagine to exist; to have a slight or vague opinion of the existence of, without proof, and often upon weak evidence or no evidence; to mistrust; to surmise; -- commonly used regarding something unfavorable, hurtful, or wrong; as, to suspect the presence of disease.
Nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little; and therefore men should remedy suspicion by producing to know more.
Bacon.
From her hand I could suspect no ill.
Milton.
2.
To imagine to be guilty, upon slight evidence, or without proof; as, to suspect one of equivocation.
3.
To hold to be uncertain; to doubt; to mistrust; to distruct; as, to suspect the truth of a story.
Addison.
4.
To look up to; to respect.
[Obs.]
Syn. -- To mistrust; distrust; surmise; doubt.
© Webster 1913.
Sus*pect", v. i.
To imagine guilt; to have a suspicion or suspicions; to be suspicious.
If I suspect without cause, why then make sport at time.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.