[əˈbeɪəns], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a state of temporary disuse or suspension
(e.g: matters were held in abeyance pending further enquiries)


Phrases:

Origin:
early 16th century (in the legal sense): from Anglo-Norman French abeiaunce ‘the state of waiting for a claimant or owner’, from abeier ‘open wide, wait for’, from a- ‘towards’ + Old French beer ‘to gape’