abeyance

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

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

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

2. 2
   noun

   Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition.

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

3. 3
   noun

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

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

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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