Abeyance: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Abeyance noun. A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
How to say it
uh-BAY-unss/əˈbeɪəns/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (BAY).
Abeyance in a sentence
Plans for the bypass have been in abeyance since the money ran out.
The tradition fell into abeyance during the war and was revived in 1950.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- suspension
- limbo
- dormancy
- hiatus
Opposite:
- force
- operation
Where abeyance comes from
From Old French abeance, longing or expectation, from abeer, to gape after.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The tradition fell into _____ during the war and was revived in 1950.
- abeyance
- injunction
- malfeasance
Show the answer
abeyance: The tradition fell into abeyance during the war and was revived in 1950.