abeyance

a·bey·ance   (ə-bā'əns)    n.   The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension: held the plan in abeyance. Law A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an estate that has not yet been assigned. [Anglo-Norman, variant of Old French abeance, desire, from abaer, to gape at : a-, at (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + baer, to gape; see bay2.] a·bey'ant adj.

Main Entry: abey·ance
Pronunciation: &-'bA-&ns
Function: noun
Etymology: 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 title to the property is vested —usually used with in abeyance>
2 : temporary inactivity or suppression : cessation or suspension for a period of time —usually used with in or into abeyance —J. H. Friedenthal et al.>

Main Entry: abey·ance
Pronunciation: &-'bA-&n(t)s
Function: noun
: temporary inactivity or suspension (as of function or a symptom)<abeyance of the subjective noises in the head —Journal of the American Medical Association>