Definitions for abeyanceəˈbeɪ əns

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

a•bey•anceəˈbeɪ əns(n.)

  1. temporary inactivity, cessation, or suspension:

    to hold a question in abeyance.

  2. Law. the state of property whose title has not been vested in a known titleholder:

    an estate in abeyance.

    Category: Law

Origin of abeyance:

1520–30; < AF; OF abeance aspiration, lit., a gaping at or toward. See a -5, bay2, -ance

a•bey′ant(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

  1. abeyance, suspension(noun)

    temporary cessation or suspension

Wiktionary

  1. abeyance(Noun)

    Expectancy; condition of being undetermined; undetermined ownership; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title.

  2. abeyance(Noun)

    Suspension; temporary suppression.

  3. abeyance(Noun)

    Expectancy of a title, its right in existence but its exercise suspended.

    The broad pennant of a commodore first class has been in abeyance since 1958, together with the rank.

  4. Origin: * First attested in 1528.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Abeyance(noun)

    expectancy; condition of being undetermined

  2. Abeyance(noun)

    suspension; temporary suppression


Translations for abeyance

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

abeyance(verb)

left undecided usually for a short time

The matter was left in abeyance.

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