Also 6 sugiest. [f. L. suggest-, pa. ppl. stem of suggerĕre, f. sug- = SUB- 2 + gerĕre to bear, carry, bring.]
1. trans. To cause to be present to the mind as an object of thought, an idea to be acted upon, a question or problem to be solved; in early use said esp. of insinuating or prompting to evil. In extended application, to propose as an explanation or solution, as a course of action, as a person or thing suitable for a purpose, or the like.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 124 b. The aungell of sathanas … euer suggestynge & mouynge some vyce, vnder the colour of vertue.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 651. Disturbing Jealousy … Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, III. ii. Succession, conquest, and election straight Suggested are.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 148. These men … ceased not continually to suggest vnto him high conceits of himselfe.
1665. Glanvill, Def. Van. Dogm., 34. What the Gentleman himself suggests were answer sufficient.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 355. Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust?
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 161. A Country most remote from us … and consequently it would be suggested as unprofitable to our Commerce.
1779. Mirror, No. 24. In the Allegro, meaning to excite a cheerful mood, he suggests a variety of objects.
1854. Milman, Lat. Christ., III. vii. (1864), II. 156. Gregory dwells on the advantage of being thus constantly suggested to the prayers of friends.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 90. I proposed that King James should retire to Rome or Modena. Then you suggested Avignon; and I assented.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Supplices, 680, note. The MSS. have προμαθεὺς or προμηθεὺς. Dobree suggested προμαθής.
1886. Baring-Gould, Court Royal, v. I would suggest your following me into my sanctum sanctorum.
1901. Cycl. Tour. Club Gaz., Oct., 389. It is difficult to suggest a remedy.
b. Said of the conscience, feelings, etc.; hence, of external things, to prompt the execution of, provide a motive for.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 93. He that hath the first diuine calling (his conscience suggesting the same vnto him).
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 31. A great many … have lost also the best endeavours their wit could suggest them.
1749. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. § 2. 347. The frequent making of Hypotheses … would suggest numerous Phaenomena, that otherwise escape notice.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvi. (1782), I. 655. Prudence suggested the necessity of a temporary retreat.
1833. H. Coleridge, Biogr. Borealis, 6. His poem, called ‘Flecnoe, an English Priest,’ which is supposed to have suggested to Dryden his famous satire of McFlecnoe.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., xiv. (1858), 473. The sky, the flowers, the trees, the fields, which suggested the Parables.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 182. The punishments to be inflicted on slaves are suggested by the cruelty of fear.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, iii. 77. The success of the Iliad naturally suggested an attempt upon the Odyssey.
c. Const. clause or inf.: To put forward the notion, opinion or proposition (that, etc.).
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 124 b. Whan … he suggesteth or moueth to man or woman to do suche thinges that he wolde haue them to do.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, 415. They suggested vnto him, that Gonsaluo was a Magician, who [etc.].
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iii. (1840), 82. The honourable person … who I seemed to suggest was not to be believed.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 567. I have no need to suggest, that these inscriptions might be conceived in a much happier style than mine.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 125. The drawing-master … suggested how irksome it ever is to fill up the outline we delight to throw off the fancy.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 73. They suggest that Socrates should be invited to take part in the consultation.
d. To utter as a suggestion.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xli. ‘Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman.
1882. ‘Basil’ (R. A. King), Love the Debt, II. xix. 83. ‘I think I’d try giving her notice again, first,’ hesitatively suggested his feeble fellow-bachelor.
e. refl. Of an idea, proposition, etc.: To present itself to the mind.
1801. Farmer’s Mag., April, 221. No wonder the idea of emigration should suggest itself.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Prometh., 379, note. The danger of approaching the crater in an eruption naturally suggested itself.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, x. 101. It must assuredly suggest itself to any one of us that the best method of doing this is [etc.].
† 2. To prompt (a person) to evil; to tempt to or to do something; to seduce or tempt away. Obs.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xiii. Pamela (whom thy Maister most perniciously hath suggested out of my dominion).
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 780. Which partie-coated presence of loose loue … Those heauenlie eies that looke into these faults Suggested vs to make. Ibid. (1591), Two Gent., III. i. 34. Knowing that tender youth is soone suggested, I nightly lodge her in an vpper Towre. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, IV. v. 47. I giue thee not this to suggest thee from thy master. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., I. i. 164. This holy Foxe … suggests the King our Master To this last costly Treaty.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 37. The unquiet walkes of Devils, prompting and suggesting us unto mischiefe.
† b. To insinuate into (a person’s mind) the (false) idea that, etc. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. i. 261. We must suggest the People, in what hatred He still hath held them.
1689. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 297. Some persons have indeavored to suggest and insence ye minds of the good people, That the Governor had a designe.
3. To give a hint or inkling of, without plain or direct expression or explanation.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., Ess., Wks. 1721, I. 203. Virgil … loves to suggest a Truth indirectly.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1871), I. 121. It [sc. a statue] suggests far more than it shows.
1900. Jrnl. Sch. Geog. (U.S.), April, 126. Such a knowledge of society cannot be, with profit, more than suggested in the early years.
4. Of things: To call up the thought of by association or natural connection of ideas.
1709. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 25. One iden may suggest another to the mind. Ibid. (1733), Th. Vision Vind., § 39. All signs suggest the things signified.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, ii. § 7. A certain kind of sound suggests immediately to the mind, a coach passing in the street.
1859. Hawthorne, Transform., xxix. 226. Such silvery ones [sc. clouds] as those … have often suggested sculpturesque groups, figures, and attitudes.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., xv. (1875), 255. Democratic Athens, oligarchic Rome, suggest to us Pericles and Brutus.
1894. H. Drummond, Ascent of Man, 47. A process of growth suggests to the reason the work of an intelligent Mind.
b. To give the impression of the existence or presence of.
1816. A. Knox, Rem. (1834), I. 56. This took place … to such a degree, as to suggest strong wishes for reunion with the Roman Catholic Church.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, i. 2. With an air suggesting a desire to attract as little attention as possible.
5. Law. To put forward in a ‘suggestion.’
1719. Lilly, Pract. Reg., II. 537. There ought to be an Affidavit made of the Matter suggested.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. vii. 113. If … the court shall finally be of opinion, that the matter suggested is a good and sufficient ground of prohibition in point of law.
6. In hypnotism, to influence by suggestion.
1895. in Funk’s Stand. Dict.
1903. F. W. H. Myers, Human Pers., I. 175. The man who is ‘suggested’ into sobriety.
7. absol. or intr. † To prompt or tempt to evil (obs.); to make or offer a suggestion.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. ii. 114. Other diuels that suggest by treasons. Ibid. (1604), Oth., II. iii. 358. When diuels will the blackest sinnes put on, They do suggest at first with heauenly shewes.
1635. Quarles, Embl., I. i. (1718), 7. The devil may suggest, compel he cannot.
1675. Marq. Worcester in Essex Papers (Camden), 38. We beg … that you would suggest if you can think of any other person.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. Dead (1907), 223. That sprightly way of thinking as wildly as your imagination can suggest.
1855. Tennyson, Will, 14. Who … ever weaker grows thro’ acted crime, Or seeming-genial venial fault, Recurring and suggesting still!
