a. Now rare or Obs. [f. SUSPECT sb.1 + -FUL.]
† 1. Having regard or respect for something; mindful of. Obs. rare–1.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), I. 159/2. He willeth him … to be sollicitous for his soule, and suspectfull of the houre of his death.
2. Full of suspicion; inclined to suspect; mistrustful; = SUSPICIOUS 2.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1912), 317. In whom the innate meanes will bring forth ravenous covetousnes, and the newnes of his estate, suspectfull cruelty.
1611. Second Maiden’s Trag., I. i. Thei’d lyu’de suspectfull still, warnde by their feares.
1640. Howell, Dodona’s Gr., 21. Alwaies emulous and suspectfull of her.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 59. To include the whole Nation … under such a diffident and suspectfull prohibition.
1682. Otway, Venice Preserved, III. ii. Our good Fortune Has … Strengthen’d the fearful’st, charm’d the most suspectful.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xiv. The most suspectful, unimpulsive, and ungenerously-disposed of all natures.
† 3. Exciting or deserving suspicion; = SUSPICIOUS 1. Obs. rare.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxiii. (1632), 59. Spare no powder, which would serve as a gratification toward these suspectfull troupes.
1641. Milton, Reform., I. Wks. 1851, III. 30. The dangerous and suspectfull translations of the Apostat Aquila.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 47. Nothing could make France more suspectfull to England than the addition of those Countreyes.
Hence Suspectfulness, proneness to suspicion.
1872. Lever, Ld. Kilgobbin, v. (1875), 37. The half-suspectfulness of one not fully assured of what he was listening to.
