0
JKBelieve Posted 21 years ago
if i said 'he's a suspicious man' then does it mean that he did a crime or he doesn't trust people?
and I'd like to ask the same question for 'mistrust'
Grammar
Suspicious/mistrust
if i said 'he's a suspicious man' then does it mean that he did a crime or he doesn't trust people?
and I'd like to ask the same question for 'mistrust'
Top answer
According to WEBSTER it can mean both. ) \ suspicious=distrustful mistrust = suspect
- According to WEBSTER it can mean both.
- ) \ suspicious=distrustful mistrust = suspect
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
16 Answers
0
According to WEBSTER it can mean both.
suspicious = suspect(adj.) \ suspicious=distrustful
mistrust = suspect
suspicious = suspect(adj.) \ suspicious=distrustful
mistrust = suspect
00
"John is a suspicious man" means "The police/people are suspicious of /mistrustful of John"
paco
paco
00
Hi Paco
But on the other hand it can mean that John is a skeptic\suspectful man = doubter
Don't you think so?
But on the other hand it can mean that John is a skeptic\suspectful man = doubter
Don't you think so?
00
Hello Mav
Did you find "suspectful" in you dictionary? I didn't.
A skeptical/skeptic person is an intellectual person who doubts other's opinion.
A suspicious person is a person whose behavior causes people's suspicion.
paco
Did you find "suspectful" in you dictionary? I didn't.
A skeptical/skeptic person is an intellectual person who doubts other's opinion.
A suspicious person is a person whose behavior causes people's suspicion.
paco
00
Hi Paco
I am sorry for the 'suspectful', it was supposed to be 'suspect'. Webster says 'suspicious' can mean both DISTRUSTFUL and 'tending to arouse suspicion'.
http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=suspicious&x=15&y=13
I am sorry for the 'suspectful', it was supposed to be 'suspect'. Webster says 'suspicious' can mean both DISTRUSTFUL and 'tending to arouse suspicion'.
http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=suspicious&x=15&y=13
00
I think what I said would be in agreement with Webster.
The meaning depends on how you use it.
[attributitive use]
John is a suspicious man. [People doubt John]
John has a suspicious nature. [John doubts everything]
John got a suspicious letter. [Something was wrong with the letter]
[predicative use]
The meaning depends on how you use it.
[attributitive use]
John is a suspicious man. [People doubt John]
John has a suspicious nature. [John doubts everything]
John got a suspicious letter. [Something was wrong with the letter]
[predicative use]
00
Hi Paco
All the examples you brought up in the sense of 'skeptical' refer to things as subjects. Can't we say 'suspicious' about a preson so that it will mean 'skeptical'?
All the examples you brought up in the sense of 'skeptical' refer to things as subjects. Can't we say 'suspicious' about a preson so that it will mean 'skeptical'?
00
Mav
I am afraid our understandings about 'skeptical' would be different. 'A skeptical letter' is not 'a suspicious letter'. We send a skeptical letter to a journal editor to argue against some articles of the journal. We don't send a suspicious letter in this case.
paco
[PS] As to your 2nd question, sometimes people use 'suspicious' in the sense of 'hav
I am afraid our understandings about 'skeptical' would be different. 'A skeptical letter' is not 'a suspicious letter'. We send a skeptical letter to a journal editor to argue against some articles of the journal. We don't send a suspicious letter in this case.
paco
[PS] As to your 2nd question, sometimes people use 'suspicious' in the sense of 'hav
00
I understand 'sceptic' letter as 'controversial letter' in the latter case. That's why you were ellegedly going to fight against it, isn't it?
Paco, I think I understand you.
Suspicious is the passive of sceptic. Is that your intention? I mean if someone is sceptical about someone else, the 'someone else' is suspicious by 'someone'. o_O
Paco, I think I understand you.
Suspicious is the passive of sceptic. Is that your intention? I mean if someone is sceptical about someone else, the 'someone else' is suspicious by 'someone'. o_O
00
Mav
Yes you are right. "X is suspicious of Y" is "Y is suspected by X". You can say also "X is skeptical about/of Y". But 'skeptical' is originally a philosophical term meaning 'be among Skepticis (Greek philosophers who doubted any established ideas). So it implies something intellectual, while 'suspicious' is rather a common adjective.
OK I'll be done with this discussion. P
Yes you are right. "X is suspicious of Y" is "Y is suspected by X". You can say also "X is skeptical about/of Y". But 'skeptical' is originally a philosophical term meaning 'be among Skepticis (Greek philosophers who doubted any established ideas). So it implies something intellectual, while 'suspicious' is rather a common adjective.
OK I'll be done with this discussion. P
0
Related Questions