abeyance

noun

abey·​ance ə-ˈbā-ən(t)s 

1

: a state of temporary inactivity : suspension

—used chiefly in the phrase in abeyance

… new contracts on all but one existing mine … are in abeyance pending the outcome of a government inquiry to be carried out into Australia's role in the nuclear fuel cycle.

—Vimala Sarma

a plan that is currently being held in abeyance

2

: a lapse in succession during which there is no person in whom a title is vested

an estate in abeyance

abeyant

ə-ˈbā-ənt 

adjective

Did you know?

When should you use abeyance?

Abeyance comes from Old French baer, meaning "to have the mouth wide open," which was joined with the prefix a- to form abaer, a verb meaning "to open wide," and, in later Anglo-French usage, "to expect or await." There followed Anglo-French abeyance, which referred to a state of expectation—specifically, a person's expectation of inheriting a title or property. The word, in English, was then applied for the expectation to the property itself: a property or title "in abeyance" is in temporary limbo, waiting to be claimed by a rightful heir or owner.

Synonyms

• cold storage
• deep freeze
• doldrums
• dormancy
• holding pattern
• latency
• moratorium
• quiescence
• suspended animation
• suspense
• suspension

Examples of abeyance in a Sentence

our weekend plans were held in abeyance until we could get a weather forecast

Recent Examples on the Web

The case is currently held in abeyance while the appeals court ponders various issues. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Melody, so unaccountably a product of unconscious forces, had placed his ego in abeyance, allowing a forbearing tenderness to emerge. —Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2024

With the deal in abeyance and Iran rapidly growing its nuclear program, its regional forces will become more brazen. —Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2021

Cuba could no longer compete when Fidel Castro banned professional baseball in 1961, and the series went into abeyance. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French abeyaunce "absence of a claimant or owner, lapse in succession," from abaer, abair "to open wide" (from a-, prefix in transitive verbs—from Latin ad- ad- — + baer, baier "to have the mouth wide open, gape, pant," from Vulgar Latin *batāre, perhaps of imitative origin) + -ance -ance

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

abeyance

noun

abey·​ance ə-ˈbā-ən(t)s 

: a temporary interruption of activity

plans held in abeyance

abeyant

-ənt 

adjective

Medical Definition

abeyance

noun

abey·​ance ə-ˈbā-ən(t)s 

: temporary inactivity or suspension (as of function or a symptom)

Legal Definition

abeyance

noun

abey·​ance ə-ˈbā-əns 

1

: a lapse in the succession of property during which there is no person in whom title to the property is vested

—usually used with in

the estate was in abeyance

2

: temporary inactivity or suppression : cessation or suspension for a period of time

—usually used with in or into

to hold the entry of summary judgment in abeyance

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

Etymology

Middle French abeance expectation (of a title or claimant), from abaer to expect, from a-, prefix stressing result + baer to gape, aim at