Verdachts

Verdachts is the genitive form of the German noun Verdacht, which means suspicion or the belief that something is true or that someone has committed a wrongdoing. In everyday language, Verdacht expresses a belief that a fact or action is likely, but not proven. It appears in fixed phrases such as auf Verdacht (on suspicion) and in compound nouns like Tatverdacht (suspicion that a specific crime has been committed) and Verdachtslage (the state or situation that gives rise to suspicion). The form Verdachts is most commonly seen as the genitive singular of Verdacht, as in aus dem Verdacht des Betrugs or within compounds like Verdachtsmomente or Verdachtslage.

Etymology and usage notes: Verdacht derives from the verb verdächtigen, meaning to suspect. The noun has been part of German lexicon since the medieval and early modern periods, reflecting how language developed around belief, evidence, and inquiry. In modern German, Verdacht is used both in ordinary speech and in technical contexts to indicate a belief that something is the case without proof.

Legal and practical context: In law enforcement and criminal procedure, Verdacht plays a technical role. Tatverdacht refers to suspicion that a particular person has committed a crime. Terms such as hinreichender Verdacht (reasonable suspicion) and dringender Tatverdacht (urgent suspicion) denote thresholds that can justify certain measures, such as temporary detention or specific investigative actions. Actions taken on Verdacht, such as Durchsuchung auf Verdacht (search on suspicion), are subject to legal rules and oversight, balancing investigative needs with rights and privacy.

Usage in discourse: Verdacht helps distinguish between proven guilt and unproven allegations. It is commonly employed in journalism, criminology, and legal commentary to indicate that a conclusion has not yet been established.