abeyance

  • 1abeyance — abey·ance /ə bā əns/ n [Middle French abeance expectation (of a title or claimant), from abaer to expect, from a , prefix stressing result + baer to gape, aim at] 1: a lapse in the succession of property during which there is no person in whom… …

    Law dictionary

  • 2Abeyance — (from the Old French abeance meaning gaping ), a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term… …

    Wikipedia

  • 3Abeyance — A*bey ance, n. [OF. abeance expectation, longing; a (L. ad) + baer, beer, to gape, to look with open mouth, to expect, F. bayer, LL. badare to gape.] 1. (Law) Expectancy; condition of being undetermined. [1913 Webster] Note: When there is no… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4abeyance — ► NOUN (in phrase in/into abeyance) ▪ temporarily suspended or not used. ORIGIN from Old French abeer aspire after …

    English terms dictionary

  • 5abeyance — (n.) 1520s, from Anglo Fr. abeiance suspension, also expectation (especially in a lawsuit), from O.Fr. abeance aspiration, desire, noun of condition of abeer aspire after, gape from à at (see AD (Cf. ad )) + ba(y)er be open, from L. *batare …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6abeyance — [n] being inactive or suspended temporarily deferral, discontinuation, dormancy, inactivity, intermission, latency, postponement, quiescence, recess, remission, suspension, waiting; concepts 681,705 Ant. action, activity, continuance,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7abeyance — [ə bā′əns] n. [Anglo Fr abeiance < OFr abeance, expectation < a , to, at + bayer, to gape, wait expectantly: see BAY2] 1. temporary suspension, as of an activity or function 2. Law a state of not having been determined or settled, as of… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8abeyance — n. (formal) in, into abeyance (to hold in abeyance; to fall into abeyance) * * * [ə beɪəns] into abeyance (to hold in abeyance; to fall into abeyance) (formal) in …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 9Abeyance — A situation in which the rightful owner of a property, office or title has not yet been decided. Abeyance results when the current owner or holder does not declare a single current beneficiary. Instead, the new owner is… …

    Investment dictionary

  • 10abeyance — a|bey|ance [əˈbeıəns] n [Date: 1500 1600; : Old French; Origin: abeance expectation , from abaer to desire , from baer; ABASHED] in abeyance something such as a custom, rule, or system that is in abeyance is not being used at the present time… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English