abeyance
pronunciation
How to pronounce abeyance in British English:
UK [əˈbeɪəns]
How to pronounce abeyance in American English:
US [əˈbeəns]
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- Noun:
- temporary cessation or suspension
Word Origin
- abeyance (n.)
- 1520s, from Anglo-French abeiance "suspension," also "expectation (especially in a lawsuit)," from Old French abeance "aspiration, desire," noun of condition of abeer "aspire after, gape" from à "at" (see ad-) + ba(y)er "be open," from Latin *batare "to yawn, gape" (see abash). Originally in French a legal term, "condition of a person in expectation or hope of receiving property;" it turned around in English law to mean "condition of property temporarily without an owner" (1650s). Root baer is also the source of English bay (n.2) "recessed space," as in "bay window."
Example
- 1. Reality is in abeyance there , awaiting attention .
- 2. Our contract has fall into abeyance .
- 3. Within nato , the disputes over how far it should expand are in abeyance .
- 4. He strongly urged holding the next withdrawal decision in abeyance for ninety days .
- 5. 5 Notification , appeals , and actions held in abeyance .