Nearby Words
noun
1.
a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action: a short pause after each stroke of the oar.
2.
a cessation of activity because of doubt or uncertainty; a momentary hesitation.
3.
any comparatively brief stop, delay, wait, etc.: I would like to make a pause in my talk and continue after lunch.
4.
a break or rest in speaking or reading to emphasize meaning, grammatical relation, metrical division, etc., or in writing or printing by the use of punctuation.
5.
EXPANDProsody. a break or suspension, as a caesura, in a line of verse.
6.
COLLAPSEMusic. a fermata.
verb (used without object)
7.
to make a brief stop or delay; wait; hesitate: He paused at the edge of the pool for a moment. I'll pause in my lecture so we can all get some coffee.
8.
to dwell or linger (usually followed by on or upon): to pause upon a particular point.
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Pauses
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
9.
give pause, to cause to hesitate or be unsure, as from surprise or doubt: These frightening statistics give us pause.
Origin:
1400–50; (noun) Middle English < Latin pausa < Greek paûsis a halt, equivalent to paú(ein) to stop + -sis -sis; (v.) derivative of the noun
1400–50; (noun) Middle English < Latin pausa < Greek paûsis a halt, equivalent to paú(ein) to stop + -sis -sis; (v.) derivative of the noun
Related forms
paus·al, adjective
pause·ful, adjective
pause·ful·ly, adverb
pause·less, adjective
pause·less·ly, adverb
EXPANDSynonyms
1–3. suspension, interruption, break, halt; hiatus, lacuna. 7. rest. 8. tarry, delay.
1–3. suspension, interruption, break, halt; hiatus, lacuna. 7. rest. 8. tarry, delay.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To pauses
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
pause
1426, from M.Fr. pause (14c.), from L. pausa "a halt, stop, cessation," from Gk. pausis "stopping, ceasing," from pauein "to stop, to cause to cease." The verb is from 1526.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
pause (pôz)
n.
A temporary stop or cessation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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