ABEYANCE

abeyance, suspension

(noun) temporary cessation or suspension

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

abeyance (countable and uncountable, plural abeyances)

(legal) Expectancy; condition of ownership of real property being undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title. [Late 16th century]

Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition. [Mid 17th century]

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

Source: Wiktionary


A*bey"ance, n. Etym: [OF. abeance expectation, longing; a (L. ad) + baer, beer, to gape, to look with open mouth, to expect, F. bayer, LL. badare to gape.]

1. (Law)

Definition: Expectancy; condition of being undetermined.

Note: When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance (or a dignity) can vest, it is said to be in abeyance, that is, in expectation; the law considering it as always potentially existing, and ready to vest whenever a proper owner appears. Blackstone.

2. Suspension; temporary suppression. Keeping the sympathies of love and admiration in a dormant state, or state of abeyance. De Quincey.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 June 2025

STRAP

(noun) an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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