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Abeyance

//əˈbeɪ.ən(t)s// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Expectancy; a condition when an ownership of real property is undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title. countable, uncountable

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

  2. 2
    temporary cessation or suspension wordnet
  3. 3
    Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition. countable, uncountable

    "Without a plausible explanation for what might have provoked an ice age, the whole theory fell into abeyance."

  4. 4
    Expectancy of a noble or armigeral title, its right in existence but its exercise suspended. countable, uncountable

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

Etymology

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”).

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