Obs. or arch. Also 4 Sc. -ec, 5–6 -eote, 6 -eckte, Sc. -ek. [ad. L. suspectus, in class.L. looking up, a height, esteem, respect, in med.L. suspicion (after suspectus pa. pple., and suspicĕre), f. suspect-, suspicĕre: see SUSPECT a. and v. Cf. It. sospetto.]
1. The or an act of suspecting, or the condition of being suspected; = SUSPICION 1.
In earliest use chiefly in phraseological expressions: see esp. b, and cf. RESPECT sb.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 263. The peple anon hath suspect of this thyng,… That it was by the assent of Apius.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 49. Þat no suspecte rise betwix vs þat myght hurte þi gude name.
a. 1542. Wyatt, Poems, ‘And if an Iye,’ 22.
| And my suspect is without blame, | |
| For as ye saye, not only I | |
| But othr moo have denyd the same; | |
| Then it is not Jelowsye. |
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxxiv. 141. Thairfor fle fra suspek.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 1777/2. If any of you be in suspect, that … my meaning is to do … any thing wherewith the realme may haue iust cause to be discontented.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 87. You … draw within the compasse of suspect Th’ vnuiolated honor of your wife.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, III. xxxiii. They might hold sure intelligence Among themselues without suspect t’ offend.
c. 1600. Chalkhill, Thealma & Cl. (1683), 121. Without suspect they fell into the Trap Anaxocles had laid.
1620. Quarles, Feast for Wormes, iv. 1. When a Thiefe’s appr’ended on suspect.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. [I.] xciii. 271. By this meanes, they often bring goodnesse, into suspect.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. Ad Sect. ii. § 9. If the Holy Jesus did suffer his Mother to fall into misinterpretation and suspect.
1881. Swinburne, Mary Stuart, II. i. 71. She … avows By silence and suspect of jealous heart Her manifest foul conscience.
† b. To have (or hold) in suspect: to be suspicious of, suspect: cf. SUSPICION 2 f. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 230. Thou shalt also haue in suspect the conseillyng of wikked folk.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 30 b. By counseyle of the people he had the lyon in suspecte.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxii. 388. The vycount of Rochechourt … was had in suspect to haue tourned frenche.
1533. J. Heywood, Johan, A iij. Well husbande, nowe I do coniect That thou hast me somwhat in suspect.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. i. 142. Giue me assurance with some friendly Vow, That I may neuer haue you in suspect.
1615. Daniel, Hymen’s Tri., II. i. Held ever in Restraint, and in Suspect.
† c. Const. in, of, to (the person or thing about whom or which something is suspected). Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 905. This olde poure man Was euere in suspect of hir mariage.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xlvii. 68. Wherof all the Countrey … had great suspect of treason to the Captayne. Ibid. (a. 1533), Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), R v. Ther fel on him an other malady … which put … his frendes in great suspect of his heltbe.
1535. in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden), 74. Not for any defaut or suspect that I have in doctour Lee.
1638. Nabbes, Bride, I. iii. (1640), B iv. Thou art base In thy suspect of her.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 264. That you may have no suspect of these my words.
d. Const. of (the evil suspected).
1523. [see c].
1555. Philpot, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1388/2. I haue bene in prison thus long … upon suspecte or setting foorth the reporte thereof.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 105. She … slinketh into his companie without any surmise or suspect had of his part of any such kind of deceipt.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. iii. 23. The faire Serena … Wandred about the fields … Without suspect of ill or daungers hidden dred.
a. 1639. Webster, Appius & Virginia, I. i. Arraign’d before the Senate For some suspect of treason.
e. with a and pl. = SUSPICION 1 b.
1547. Wyatt, Def., Poet. Wks. (1831), p. lviii. Neither God’s law, nor man’s law … condemneth a man for suspects: but for such a suspect … that may be so apparent … that it may be a grievous matter.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 89. You do me shamefull iniurie, Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.
1598. Yong, Diana, 143. Behold then (faire Shepherdesse) how much he was giuen to false suspects and wrongfull iealousie, that my wordes could neuer satisfie him.
1657. J. Sergeant, Schism Dispach’t, 457. The former manner of proceeding … makes … the Writer … fall under a just suspect.
1768. Goldsm., Goodn. Man, V. i. Have I had my hand to addresses, and my head in the print-shops; and talk to me of suspects?
† f. Ground of suspicion; = SUSPICION 1 c.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1625), 17. Seeing … you also doe grant, that in all his behauiour you neuer saw so much as one suspect.
† 2. Expectation; esp. apprehensive expectation; = SUSPICION 4. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptista), 1013. Suspec had he Þat þai for his iniquite Suld sla hyme.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Prose), 126. Hauynge euer suspect for to be brought to the ferefull Iugement of god.
1620. Quarles, Feast for Wormes, xi. 11. Was there, O was there not a iust suspect, My preaching would procuer this effect?
