abeyance

== English == === Etymology === 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”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈbeɪ.ən(t)s/ === Noun === abeyance (countable and uncountable, plural abeyances) (law) Expectancy; a condition when an ownership of real property is undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title. [Late 16th century] Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition. [Mid 17th century] Expectancy of a noble or armigeral title, its right in existence but its exercise suspended. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References ===