soupçon
See also: soupcon
English
Alternative forms
- soupcon
Etymology
From French soupçon. Doublet of suspection.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /suːpˈsɒn/, /suːpˈsɒ̃/
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒn
Noun
soupçon (plural soupçons)
- A very small amount; a hint; a trace, slight idea; an inkling.
- Add a soupçon of red pepper.
- coffee with a soupçon of cognac
- No one is so depraved that a soupçon of goodness cannot be found in them.
- 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter II, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, OCLC 1000392275, page 21:
- Henrietta, her niece, looked much prettier than she really was; she had good dark eyes, to which a soupçon of rouge, put on with such skill that few suspected it, gave all possible brightness.
- (dated) A suspicion; a suggestion.
Synonyms
- (small amount): see also Thesaurus:modicum.
Translations
very small amount — see modicum
suspicion, suggestion — see suspicion
References
- “soupçon” at Wordnik
Anagrams
- coupons, uncoops
French
Etymology
From the Old French sospeçon, inherited from the Latin suspectiō, suspectiōnem. Not a doublet of suspicion.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sup.sɔ̃/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -ɔ̃
Noun
soupçon m (plural soupçons)
- suspicion; mistrust
- a hint, a tad, a little bit (of something)
- ajoute un soupçon de cannelle
- Synonym: zeste
Derived terms
- au-dessus de tout soupçon
- soupçonner
Related terms
- soupçonnable
- soupçonneux
Descendants
- → English: soupçon
Further reading
- “soupçon”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- coupons