Soupçon

Soupçon

so͞opˈsäN

Noun

  • A very small quantity of something.

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Example Sentences

“The steak came with a soupçon of horseradish sauce for dipping.”

“There was a soupçon of nail polish left in the bottle.”

“A soupçon of cayenne pepper was needed to add flavor to the dish.”

Word Origin

French, mid-18th century

Why this word?

The word “soupçon,” meaning “a tiny amount of something,” has a suspicious origin — literally. It comes from the Old French word “sospeçon,” which comes from the Latin verb “suspicere,” meaning “to suspect.” Today, the most common usage of “soupçon” is to refer to a scant amount of an ingredient, or a smidgeon of a product, but when English speakers adopted the word from the French in the 18th century, the suspicious nature of the word was more prevalent. It was used to describe when someone had an inkling about something, or a touch of suspicion. For example, “I have a soupçon that my friends are planning something for my birthday.” 

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Learn a new word Cachinnation

kakɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n