Suspected

2003年沙士爆發，相信不少香港人仍猶有餘悸。如今武漢爆發不明原因肺炎，屯門醫院確認接收了一宗曾到過武漢的懷疑（suspected）肺炎求診個案，不禁令人擔心香港有機會爆發肺炎。

Suspect用作動詞時，可以解「懷疑、猜想」某物的存在，而沒有足夠證據。例如，It is too early now to suspect SARS is back.（現在懷疑沙士又回來還為時過早。）I did suspect he was lying to me.（我確實懷疑他在對我說謊。）Suspect的過去分詞（past participle）suspected可以用作形容詞，解「懷疑的」。例如，Currently twenty seven suspected cases have been reported.（目前有27宗疑似病例。）The police evacuated the building as a suspected bomb was found.（因為發現了可疑炸彈，警方疏散大廈。）

Suspect還可以解「懷疑……有罪、認為……有嫌疑」。例句︰There was no reason to suspect that her husband was the killer.（沒有理由懷疑她的丈夫是兇手。）The teacher was suspected of child abuse.（那老師被懷疑虐待兒童。）

（本欄逢周一、三、五刊登）