2. Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt. [Obs.] "Expectation held his look suspense."
Milton.
Suspense
(Sus*pense"), n. [From F. suspens, a. See Suspense, a.]
1. The state of being suspended; specifically, a state of uncertainty and expectation, with anxiety or apprehension; indetermination; indecision; as,
the suspense of a person waiting for the verdict of a jury.
Ten days the prophet in suspense remained.
Denham.
Upon the ticklish balance of suspense.
Cowper. 2. Cessation for a time; stop; pause.
A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain.
Pope. 3. [Cf. F. suspense.] (Law) A temporary cessation of one's right; suspension, as when the rent or
other profits of land cease by unity of possession of land and rent.
Suspense account (Bookkeeping),
an account in which receipts or disbursements are temporarily
entered until their proper position in the books is determined.
Suspensely
(Sus*pense"ly), adv. In suspense. [Obs.] Hales.
Suspensibility
(Sus*pen`si*bil"i*ty) n. The quality or state of being suspensible.
Suspensible
(Sus*pen"si*ble) a. Capable of being suspended; capable of being held from sinking.
Suspension
(Sus*pen"sion) n. [Cf. F. suspension, L. suspensio arched work, imperfect pronunciation.
See Suspend.]
1. The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended; pendency; as, suspension from a hook.
2. Especially, temporary delay, interruption, or cessation; as: (a) Of labor, study, pain, etc. (b) Of decision,
determination, judgment, etc.; as, to ask a suspension of judgment or opinion in view of evidence to
be produced. (c) Of the payment of what is due; as, the suspension of a mercantile firm or of a bank.
(d) Of punishment, or sentence of punishment. (e) Of a person in respect of the exercise of his office,
powers, prerogative, etc.; as, the suspension of a student or of a clergyman. (f) Of the action or execution
of law, etc.; as, the suspension of the habeas corpus act.
3. A conditional withholding, interruption, or delay; as, the suspension of a payment on the performance
of a condition.
4. The state of a solid when its particles are mixed with, but undissolved in, a fluid, and are capable of
separation by straining; also, any substance in this state.
5. (Rhet.) A keeping of the hearer in doubt and in attentive expectation of what is to follow, or of what
is to be the inference or conclusion from the arguments or observations employed.
6. (Scots Law) A stay or postponement of execution of a sentence condemnatory by means of letters
of suspension granted on application to the lord ordinary.
7. (Mus.) The prolongation of one or more tones of a chord into the chord which follows, thus producing
a momentary discord, suspending the concord which the ear expects. Cf. Retardation.
Pleas in suspension (Law),
pleas which temporarily abate or suspend a suit. — Points of suspension
(Mech.), the points, as in the axis or beam of a balance, at which the weights act, or from which they