abeyance
uh-BAY-uhns
/əˈbeɪəns/
A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
Used primarily in legal or highly formal contexts to describe something that is 'on hold' but not cancelled.
The story behind the word. Coming from the Old French word for 'gaping,' it originally referred to someone waiting with their mouth open in expectation. In law, it came to mean a state of waiting for a future owner or decision.
Word relationships
- dormancy: 'Dormancy' is more biological or natural; 'abeyance' is more procedural or legal.
- operation: 'Operation' is the state of being active and in use.
Commonly confused with
- suspension: 'Suspension' is the action of stopping; 'abeyance' is the quiet state of waiting while stopped.
Collocations
- held in abeyance
- fall into abeyance
Example sentences
- "The matter was held in abeyance until the supreme court could issue a ruling." A legal matter.
- "Our plans for expansion are in abeyance due to the current economic climate." A dormant plan.
Memory hook
Think of 'A-Bey' (like a bay of water) where the ships are just sitting, waiting for the tide. Waiting in the wings.
When not to use
Too formal for casual conversation; don't say 'my lunch is in abeyance'.
Fun facts
- In property law, a title is 'in abeyance' if there is no current owner but there is a potential future one.
Related words
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