noun
abeyance
Abeyance (noun) means (law) A state in which it is not yet settled who owns a piece of land or a title.
noun
1
(law) A state in which it is not yet settled who owns a piece of land or a title.
"The proceeds of the estate shall be held in abeyance in an escrow account until the minor reaches age twenty-one."
2
A temporary stop or pause; a dormant state.
"The palace had previously that the duke’s military appointments were in abeyance after he stepped down from public duties in 2019."
— Ben Quinn, Queen strips Prince Andrew of military roles and royal patronages (2022)
3
(law) A state in which a noble title still exists but currently has no holder.
"The broad pennant of a commodore first class has been in abeyance since 1958, together with the rank."
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Etymology
First recorded in 1528. From Anglo-Norman abeiance ("legal expectation"), from Old French abeance ("desire"), which came from abeër ("to gape at, aspire after"), abaer, abair ("to desire"), made up of a ("to") and baër ("to gape"), bair ("yawn"), from Medieval Latin batō ("to yawn").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for abeyance
See all rhymes for abeyance →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of abeyance?
"abeyance" (noun) means (law) A state in which it is not yet settled who owns a piece of land or a title.
What is another word for abeyance?
Other words for "abeyance" include suspension.
What is the opposite of abeyance?
Opposites of "abeyance" include force, exercise, action, operation.
What are the different meanings of abeyance?
"abeyance" has 3 main meanings: 1. (law) A state in which it is not yet settled who owns a piece of land or a title; 2. A temporary stop or pause; a dormant state; 3. (law) A state in which a noble title still exists but currently has no holder.
