Etymograph

English

soupçon

Soupçon comes from French soupçon ‘suspicion’, from Latin suspectiō ‘a looking up to’, and ultimately from suspiciō.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsuspiciō
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsuspectiōas suspectiōnem‘a looking up to’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400sospeçon‘suspicion’
  4. Frenchc. 1600–presentsoupçon‘suspicion’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1838same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsuspiciō
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsuspectiōas suspectiōnem‘a looking up to’
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400sospeçon‘suspicion’
  4. Frenchc. 1600–presentsoupçon‘suspicion’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1838same form

Earliest quotation: 1838, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Keeping up Appearances. […]: “Henrietta, her niece, looked much prettier than she really…”

Linked words

through Latin suspiciō

suspect, suspicious, suspicion, 2 more

Today it means

noun A very small amount; a hint; a trace, slight idea; an inkling.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin suspiciō / soupçon