Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Suspicious, -ti(o)us, adj. Also: suspecious, -tious. [ME and e.m.E. suspicious (Ayenbite), suspecious (Chaucer), suspitious (1585), OF suspicieus (1314 in Larousse), L. suspīciōsus.]

1. Regarded with, or liable to attract or awaken, suspicion; suspect; disreputable.(a) 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 35.
He being inclusit obefor and suspicious … it is diuisit and ordanit … that the said Patrik … has tynt all fredome and priuilege of this toune 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 336.
Coft in ane verie suspitious maner 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 336.
The said Andro being knawin a notorious pyrat, and his marcat making being sa suspitious that it mycht weill haif apperit the gudis to be cumin be na honest … meanis 1561–6 Book of Assumptions in Orig. Par. II ii 512.
Remember, my lord comptrollar, and speir the rentall of thir twa, Kinlos and Bewlyne, for they are suspitious anent the fishing 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 536.
To the end the having of certane keyis of the ludging suld not be fund suspitious in hir servandis handis a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 300/77.
Hant ay in honest cwmpanie And all suspitious places fle 1558-66 Knox I 81.
Whosoever war produced for witnesses war admitted, how suspitious and infame that ever thei ware 1600-1610 Melvill 74.
This way he continowit … in Rome, till at last he becam suspitius, and thairfor was remitted bak to Paris 1613 Old Dundee I 145.
Because the place of his dwelling was very suspicious, and thoucht to be a meitt meane for covering of his unlawful tred in barrelling of tallow 1649 Sc. N. & Q. III 123.
She went to all those she suspected had anie thing to say against her quhilk is very suspicious if she had been honest she would not have done so(b) 1549 Compl. 179/6.
That ȝe maye be haldin odius and suspetius be ȝour prince 1564–5 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 15.
Becaus ye haif bene suspecious, the baillies … commandis yow that ye keip yourself in tyme to come without all caus of suspecion 1594 Cal. Sc. P. XI 327.
Thir thingis are suspetious, and I trow I may assure yow is lyklie to be money to the Papistis Lordis

b. In impersonal constructions, with following that clause. 1531 Bell. Boece II 85.
It was suspitius that Britonis suld cum under dominion of Pichtis, sen thay bene ay thair auld ennimes 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 322.
[It is] verie suspitious that the saidis personis sould be sufferit to remaine in the powar and handis of the said Erle

c. Passing into: Of doubtful suitability (to be something). 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 419.
Hir husband being a young man is nawayes meit, bot verie suspitious, to have ony governament … of the said James persone and effearis 1590 Conv. Burghs I 312.
The saidis persounis ar suspitious to be commissioneris … for ressonis to be gevin in be him and the remanentis names

2. Inclined to feel suspicion; disposed to suspect (something of a person). Also transf.(1) 1540 Crim. Trials I i 228.
The man, suspitious of natour with baschfull newis, affirmeing that it stude him to no les nor his lyff 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7109.
God ȝow forgiue ȝour ill suspitious minde(2) 1624 Buccleuch Mun. II 267.
Gawin Ellott … wes verie jalouse and suspitious of Gib that he durst not do the turne calling him a feeble fellow(3) transf. 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 98.
That na maner of handling or repaireing be betwix this toun and Dysert during this suspitious tyme

3. comb. With -like: Of such a kind as to awaken suspicion. a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 32.
As a jealous husband will not abide any suspicious-like carriage in his wife