Middle English Dictionary Entry
suspeciǒun n.
Entry Info
Forms | suspeciǒun n. Also suspecio(u)ne, -peccioun, -pescioun, -pes(s)ioun, -pectioun, -petion, susspec(c)ioun, -pescioun, -pesion & suspicioun. |
Etymology | From two sources: (1) L suspectio, -iōnis & OF suspeccïon, -pection, AF suspeccioun, -pecio(u)n, -pescion, -pession, -petion, susspecci(o)un; (2) L suspīcio, -iōnis & OF suspicïon, AF suspicioun. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The act of suspecting; unverified conjecture of the existence of fault, guilt, wrongdoing, etc.; mistrust, distrust; also, unwarranted or malicious suspicion; ful of ~; ~ of, suspicion concerning (sb.), mistrust of; bi (for) ~ that, on suspicion that (sb. has done sth. wrong, there is fault in sb.);oute of ~, unsuspecting, unsuspicious; signe of ~, evidence for suspecting (that sth. is the case); (b) haven ~, to be suspicious of someone or something; haven ~ of, be suspicious of (sb. or sth., an activity), be distrustful of (words, speech); haven ~ that, be suspicious that (sth. is the case); haven ~ to (unto, upon), suspect (sb.), be suspicious of (sb.); knouen ~ of, entertain suspicion of (theft); (c) comen to ivel ~ to, to lead to evil suspicion directed toward (sb.); fallen in ~, become suspicious; haven in ~, suspect (sb.) of wrongdoing, distrust (sb.); ben) had in ~ with, be) mistrusted by (sb.); putten from (oute of) ~, cause (sb.) not to be suspicious, allay (someone's) suspicion; putten in ~, cause (sb.) to be suspicious; stonden in ~, be suspicious (of sb.); (d) the state or fact of being suspected of wrongdoing, ill repute; also, the appearance of wrongdoing; ~ of ille (mis), attribution or imputation of guilt (wrong); devoiden al ~, to dispel all suspicion of wrongdoing; devoiden from ~, free (sb.) from the attribution or imputation of wrongdoing; putten of ~, avoid the appearance of wrongdoing, allay suspicion.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.281 : O wantrust, ful of fals suspecioun [vr. suspeccion], Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.578 : Thou miht of Jelousie wite..his condicion Which is full of suspecion.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3971 : Enuyus man ys so ful of susspecyun Þat euyl hym þenketh al.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)526 : The kyng..closed hir in the abbay of Werwelle, for suspectioun that heo was to homelich with the bischop of Winchestre.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1652 : He þat..yhernes to have nane other blys Bot þis wreched lyfe..He es outher clomsed or wode, Or it es a signe of suspecyon Þat he es in way of dampnacyon.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3487 : Yhit it es a veniel syn..When þou supposes any wykkednes Thurgh suspecion [Fyrst whan a man 42: susspeccyon], þar na es.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)42/2 : Whan Jubiter saugh here come, he chaungede his loue to a cowe; yit for all that Juno was not oute of suspecion, but asked him the cowe of yifte.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)97/11 : Þe synnes of þe hert er þir: ill thoght..ill suspecion, undevocion.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)1/19 : Right so in þaim growis haterid & suspecion of all.
- c1450 GEpist.(1) (Add 37790)123/11 : Whate so euer ye here or see of ony religiouse or famouse personne..deme the beste þerof..for by suspecion mann is ofte dysceuyd.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)81/6 : Yit suffre mekly..þan shal þi paciens put a way suspecioun oute of oþer mennis hertis.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.64.44a : Þe braunches of ire and enuie arn þese: haterede, yuel suspecion, fals and vnskilful demynge.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)198/25 : Thou dedist noote me by suspeccion that ther was defaulte in me.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)99/26 : Gilt is norise of suspeccion.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.410 : He..kept hym in direccion From entisement of all eiuill and folie, To his pleasaunce without all suspection.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)179/29 : Sebastian..Ich habbe to þe suspecion [Corp-C: suspetion]..Þat þov a-ȝen me and a-ȝen min honour Itorned hast þi þouȝ[t].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.177 : Oon of þe wise men bygan to haue suspectioun of þis doynge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.681 : Greet was the drede..Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun [vr. suspecione] Vpon..Custaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.686 : Suspecioun [vr. suspecioune] Of mennes speche euere hadde this chanoun.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)453 : Þe lefdy greted wiþ newe bon; Þe barouns hadden suspecioun.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/14 : Ȝif pouerte kepe þin hows þou derst not be a gast ne haue suspescion to þin neyȝebour þat þei wole breke þi walles & bere a wey þyn huches.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1290 : Dido hath suspecioun [vrr. suspescioun, suspession] of this.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)133 : It is ordeyned..that non of the same toun take in kepyng..ne wollen threed, ne lynen threed, ne non other maner of thyng..wher of a man may have veray suspesioun that swich maner of thyng so put to wedde be not the owen propre good of such poure men that leyn hem to wed.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)179/30 : Þei dwellyd..in diuers placys wher no suspicyon xulde ben had of her incontinens.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2905 : Belyn had þanne suspecion Þat for felonye was hit don.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)52/26 : Þe Snake of Wantruste and of discorde..causid eueryche to haue false suspecion of oþer.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)181/23 : Þe monke..saw at no bodie had tuchid þe lokk..at he mot know no suspecion of þifte.
- (1454) Paston2.94 : Be cawse he shulde not haue no suspesion to me, I rod my-self and a felaw wyth me.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2474 : I suspecioune Have of yeur wordis, lest othir be yeur entent.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)387/10 : Than had La Beale Isode grete suspeccion unto Tramtryste that he was som man of worshyp preved.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)123b : To haue Suspeccion: Suspicere.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)45/184a : Suspicari: to hawe suspecion.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4222 : This man gan fallen in suspecioun, Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2004 : Sche put hem out of al suspeccioun; For openly þer was no tokne sene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6268 : Þus þei feyned of ful false tresoun, Priam to putte from al suspecioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.744 : Þei þoruȝ fraude of fals collusioun Kyng Naulus putte in suspecioun Þat Grekis had conspired..Vp-on þe mordre of Pallamydes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1647 : Stood on a day in his malencolie This Troilus and in suspecioun Of hire for whom he wende for to dye.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)41/30 : Whan Jubiter loued faire Yoo, Juno had him in suspecion, and descended from heuyn in a skye for to take hire housbonde with the deede.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)77/20 : We dide noo þing þe which myȝte com to yvil suspecion to oure stedfast breþir.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)25.443 : Qwene Saracinte..sent..Messangeris..And, for non man Schold han hem In Suspescioun, lettres Enseled with Good Entencioun.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)136.287 (v.2:p.372) : He fel in a suspecioun bytwyx his wyf and a kynht of his.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)106/23 : Hanyball..fonde himself..fledde into a straunge cuntre, chased owt with his enemyes and had in suspeccion with his hooste.
- a1605(c1471) Arriv.Edw.IV in Camd.1 (Hrl 543)10 : The Duke of Clarence..considred well, that hymselfe was had in great suspicion, despite..and hatered, with all the lordes.
d
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.453 : He was a stedefast man of good levynge..wiþouten suspeccioun of eny trespas þat was i-knowe, but þat he usede more lawhynge..þan it semede his staate.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)22/6 : For þe kyng wolde put of euel suspecioun, he wold haue þe bischop wiþ hym to witnesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.253 : But..to deuoide al suspecioun, I wil make a resignacioun To-fore ȝow alle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5179 : Þus shal þei ben devoided..from al suspecioun.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)9/392 : Lat me ett els whore so þou will, For drede of sum suspecion of ill.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.299 : The companye of myne honeste freendes..defenden me fro alle suspecioun [L suspitione] of swich blame.
- a1450 Who þat wole knowe (Dgb 102)88 : In towche is susspescioun of mys.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)66/9 : Ponthus..come to the kyng..and said that he wold byde no lenger in his courte in mystruste ne in susspeccion.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)81/4 : Yif þou drede suspecioun þat myght falle to þe by such detraccioun, yit suffre mekly.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.50a : Dyvers persones..were commytted to the..Marchall..to be kept for Tresons, Felonyes, and suspecion of the same.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)756 : Wo so euer he takes þat mete to bere Schalle not so hardy þo couertoure rere..For suspecyon of tresoun.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)10/6 : We schull be so fele yn company þat þer schall be no suspessyon of mys.
- 1532(?a1405) Lydg.FCourt.(Thynne)86 : False Suspection Is very cause also that I dey.
- c1550(a1467) Musyng vppon (Rwl C.813)30 : Thys ladye..was arested..for so[r]cerye and eke for suspection of treason.
1b.
Belief (about sb.), presumption; haven god ~ of, to presume good of (sb.).
Associated quotations
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)30.9 : Thou saued me of nedyngis that ere many, as to..haf..susspeccioun..goed of an vntrew [friend].
2.
(a) A suspicious notion; cacchen a ~ of, to suspect (sb.); fallen into suspeciounes, become habitually suspicious; haven ~ of, have a suspicion of (sth. amiss); (b) a false belief or supposition; (c) a suspicious nature; (d) an indication of wrongdoing, a fault.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.380 : He dooth synne..whan he hath any wikked suspecioun of thyng ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1512 : Noon of hem..Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.306 : Of oure apprentice Iankyn..hastow caught a fals suspecioun [vr. suspecione].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)36b/b : Somme falleþ in to wel euel suspicions..and þerfore þey hatiþ..hire frendes and somtyme..sleeþ hem.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199b/b : If a woman haue suspeciouns of venym or a man and doþ þis stone vnder his mete..if þer be venym..he may nought swolwe þe mete.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)289/6 : If a man..haþ leien bi a womman & he haue ony suspecioun of vnclennes, þan he schal waische his ȝerde.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Tim.6.4 : He is proud, knowynge no þing, bote longynge aboute questyones..of whom ryseþ up enuyes..blasphemyes, efel suspycyones [WBible(1): yuele suspiciouns].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5222 : Ther is noon susspecioun [F soupeçon d'encusement] Whom they wolde prove.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)40 : Here wyues ben of sich age þat noon euyl suspecion [St.F.(2): suspicion] may be reysed of hem.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1555 : Tho felle in his hert a gelous suspecioun of þese.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.17.11b : Þou schalt neiþer demen oþer men ne conceiuen wilfulli ageins hem non yuel suspecion.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)156/18 : This Hanyball..distroyed all the lowe contre..excepte the..maners of..Fabius Maximus to that entent, that they of Rome shulde [haue] a suspecion [F suspection] that ther wer made some allyaunce betwene theim.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)181/14 : Þe fals suspecion with oþer good dedys and euel dedys were togedre in balance.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.759 : Sche [Fortune] was cause..To make Troyens vniustly for to wene Þat Grekys werne arived hem to tene, So þat þe cause of þis suspecioun Hath many brouȝt vn-to destruccioun.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)87/22 : Ȝe say þat we..hafe envy to goddez, But this suspeccion þat ȝe hafe of vs pertenez to ȝow.
c
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)98/22 : Coruscant eyen..shewen foolehardynesse..Croked eyen suspeccion sheweth.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.6.4 : Danyel..was feithful, and eche blame and suspicioun [L suspicio] was not founden in hym.
3.
(a) Apprehension, fear; ben in ~ of, to fear (sb.); haven ~ of, have apprehension about (sth.), be afraid of; haven in ~, dread (sth.); taken ~ of, become concerned or apprehensive about (sth.); (b) med. a pathological state of mental apprehension.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)118.39 : Schre[d] owai my reproce þat ich haue in suspeccioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)36b/a : No wondir þouȝ he þat soffreþ coleram nigram be sorry and haue suspectioun of deþ.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6658 : Jn þis viage he [Alexander] had yment Þat he wolde to hire haue went Ac he lete for suspecioun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.561 : Al sodeynly he lefte his complaynynge; Of which I took somwhat suspecioun And ner I com, and fond he wepte soore.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.39 : Amputa obprobrium quod suspicatus cum [read: sum]..Smyte away my reprofe that i had in suspecion.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)539 : Gawein and Elizer..were euer in susspecion of the saisnes that were so many in the londe.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)6/28 : In hir behavinge ther was no maner of reste nor stablenesse..wherthrough myght right wele be knowen the suspection [vr. susspessyon; Fr. desseurté] of their [vr. hyr] harte.
b
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)53b/a : Malancolie is a suspicioun hauynge lordschipe ouer the soule, y-gendrid of drede & sorowe.
4.
(a) Doubt, uncertainty; (b) a state of political instability or uncertainty; (c) med. a dangerous medical condition, mortal peril.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)79 : I wole putte thee out of suspessioun and shewe thee what powere j haue.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)81 : J see wel with oute suspecioun that ye ben oon with oute distinccioun.
b
- (c1460) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)22 : As for the Site of the Castell, in tyme of Werr or of Suspeccion, it is the most dowtefull grounde for to kepe.
c
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)155a/a : When þe endes of þe veynes be contracte oþer wiþ drawen, þe bloode staunches, and þe pacient is delyuered out of grete perile and suspecioun.
5.
(a) An expectation; a prospect, possibility; haven ~, to have expectation (of sth.); also, with inf.: expect (to be saved); med. of a pathological condition: have the possibility (of being cured); (b) surmise, speculation; a conjecture; a thin ~, a guess or vague notion; taken ~, to take omens, make divination; (c) haven (ani) ~ that, to suppose or infer that (sth. has happened, sth. is the case); (d) knowledge; also, a faint notion, an inkling; haven ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.315 : Thei..haueþ suspecion [vr. suspectioun] to be saf, boþe sarrasyns and Iewes, Thorwe Moyses and makamede.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)113b/a : Olde morphee..þat is not rede when it is froted..is vncurable or with grete difficultee curable; Which forsoþ is of contrarie condicions haþ som suspicioun to be cured.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)34 : To thilke place bi whiche men shulden caste out al the filthe..men shulden turne the beesme, For elles ther mihte be gret suspeccion that in sum anglet..the filthe were heled or heped.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)151/4 : Whan he hath longe fought ayenst his enemyes, þan he doth of his armour & restith him..for he hathe no suspecioun of no more batayle.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3509 : Eche of hem gan with other rowne..Eche with other be suspecioun Demyng þer-of liche her oppinioun.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.21.19 : In hoond he shal take coniectynge, or suspicioun [L capiet coniecturam]; in heed of the waie of the citee he shal gesse.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.86 : I aperceyvede a litil herebyforn that thow woldest seyn thus, al be it so that it were by a thynne suspecioun.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.295 : If I deme thus of a certeyn thing And is not so..is þat conseit no konnynge, Bot errour..And wonder fer is þat suspicioun..fro þe trewþe.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)48/23 : If it be kunnyd wiþout sure certeynte and in oonli suspicioun and gesse, þanne þe kunnyng þerof is to be clepid 'opynyoun.'
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)26a/a : If þu haue any suspicioun þat þe aposteme is indured, make decoct in water þe rotez of cucumeris siluestris.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)151b/b : If it bifel forsoþ þe self womman to be dede..And þu haue suspicioun [Ch.(2): þow suppose] þat þe birþe be quike..be þe birþ drawen out.
d
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)52/35 : But Iulius..hauynge noo maner evidence nor suspecion of the malicious and venemous conspiracie of Pompey and þe Senat..sente his Ambassatours..to his sone in lawe Pompeye.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3831 : Ȝit had I nevir suspecioun, from þat day til noweth, Who did þat cursid dede.