suspection

Suspection is the act or state of suspecting something or someone, or the belief formed that something is true, usually without conclusive evidence. In modern English, the term is rare and often considered archaic or literary; more common alternatives are suspicion (the feeling of doubt or belief that something is true) and to suspect (the verb).

Etymology and history: Suspection derives from Latin suspicere, meaning to look at with doubt, through Old French into Early Modern English. Over time, usage shifted toward suspicion as the primary noun, leaving suspection mainly in historical, classical, or stylistic contexts.

Usage and nuance: Because suspection is infrequent today, it can carry a formal or antiquated tone. When used, it tends to emphasize the act or process of forming a suspicion rather than the resulting belief itself. Readers encountering suspection should consider whether alternative terms like suspicion or the verb to suspect would convey the intended meaning more clearly.

See also: suspicion, suspect, skepticism.