Dictionary Workbench Ondict
Word Bank Import Dict Cloud Sync

    suspect

    Dictionary entry view. Switch to definition mode above when you know the meaning but not the word.

    suspect
    I
    sus‧pect1 S2 W3 /səˈspekt/ verb [transitive not in progressive]
     Word Family: adjective: suspect, suspected, unsuspecting, suspicious; noun: suspect, suspicion; verb: suspect; adverb: suspiciously
     Date: 1400-1500
     Language: Latin
     Origin: suspectare, from the past participle of suspicere 'to look up at, admire, distrust', from sub- 'up, secretly' + specere 'to look at'
    1. to think that something is probably true, especially something bad
        suspect (that)
        I suspected that there was something wrong with the engine.
        She strongly suspected he was lying to her.
        She’s not going to be very happy about this, I suspect.
    2. to think that something bad has happened or is happening:
        The doctors suspected pneumonia.
        suspect murder/foul play
        The position of the body led the police to suspect murder.
        suspect something/nothing/anything
        He never suspected anything.
    3. to think that someone is probably guilty of a crime:
        Who do you suspect?
        suspect somebody of (doing) something
        He’s suspected of murder.
        Pilcher was suspected of giving away government secrets to the enemy.
    4. to think that something is not honest or true:
        I began to suspect his motives in inviting me.

    II
    sus‧pect2 /ˈsʌspekt/ noun [countable]
     Word Family: adjective: suspect, suspected, unsuspecting, suspicious; noun: suspect, suspicion; verb: suspect; adverb: suspiciously
    1. someone who is thought to be guilty of a crime:
        Two suspects were arrested today in connection with the robbery.
        Police have issued a description of the murder suspect.
        suspect for
        the two suspects for the robbery
        suspect in
        a suspect in a burglary case
        main/prime/chief suspect
        Davies is still the chief suspect.
    2. the usual suspects the people or things that are usually involved in or responsible for a particular activity:
        a wine shop stocking all the usual suspects: wines from California, France, Australia
         
    COLLOCATIONS
    ■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + suspect
       ▪ the prime/chief/main suspect She didn’t realise he was the prime suspect in a murder case.
       ▪ the number one suspect (=the main suspect) I was the one who found her. And that makes me the number one suspect for her murder.
       ▪ a murder/burglary etc suspect The murder suspect is described as in his early 20s, wearing a baseball type cap and a dark jacket.
       ▪ a possible suspect Thr police drew up a list of possible subjects.
    ■ verbs
       ▪ arrest/detain a suspect Detectives arrested the suspect after a five-day undercover operation.
       ▪ question/interrogate/interview a suspect Police confirmed that six suspects are being questioned.

    III
    suspect3 adjective
     Word Family: adjective: suspect, suspected, unsuspecting, suspicious; noun: suspect, suspicion; verb: suspect; adverb: suspiciously
     Date: 1300-1400
     Language: Old French
     Origin: Latin, past participle of suspicere; ⇨ suspect1
    1. not likely to be completely honest
       SYN  dodgy:
        I’ve always thought he was a bit of a suspect character.
        The company was involved in some highly suspect business dealings.
    2. not likely to be completely true:
        The two men were convicted on the basis of some highly suspect evidence.
    3. likely to have problems and not work well:
        The engine sounded a bit suspect.
    4. [only before noun] likely to contain a bomb or something illegal or dangerous:
        Police were called in to check out a suspect van.