abeyance

In legal terms an abeyance is defined as a situation in which the legitimate owner of a property is not yet known.

(noun)

An example of abeyance is when a homeowner dies without leaving the house to anyone and his kids start to fight over it.

The definition of abeyance is a temporary stop to something or a pause.

(noun)

An example of abeyance is when construction has to stop because of rain but is scheduled to resume once it gets sunny again.

See abeyance in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

temporary suspension, as of an activity or function
Law a state of not having been determined or settled, as of lands the present ownership of which has not been established

Origin: Anglo-Fr abeiance < OFr abeance, expectation < a-, to, at + bayer, to gape, wait expectantly: see bay

See abeyance in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

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.

Origin:

Origin: Anglo-Norman

Origin: , variant of Old French abeance, desire

Origin: , from abaer, to gape at

Origin: : a-, at (from Latin ad-; see ad-)

Origin: + baer, to gape; see bay²

Related Forms: