abeyance

CEFRC2

/əˈbeɪ.ən(t)s/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A temporary pause while waiting for a decision or action.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

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

Examples

  • Our weekend plans were in abeyance.

  • The question is left in abeyance.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition.

  2. Expectancy; a condition when an ownership of real property is undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title.

More examples

In context

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

  • The proceeds of the estate shall be held in abeyance in an escrow account until the minor reaches age twenty-one.

  • Note: Under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 all territorial claims are held under abeyance in the interest of international co-operation for scientific purposes.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The project was put in blank until the committee could secure more funding.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

First attested in 1528. From Anglo-Norman abeiance (“legal expectation”), from Old French abeance (“desire”) from abeër (“to gape at, aspire after”), abaer, abair (“to desire”), from a (“to”) + baër (“to gape”), bair (“yawn”), from Medieval Latin batō (“to yawn”).