suspended animation

suspended animation

noun

Definition of SUSPENDED ANIMATION

1

: temporary suspension of the vital functions (as in persons nearly drowned)

2

: a condition (as inactivity) likened to suspended animation

Examples of SUSPENDED ANIMATION

1. animals that sleep through the winter in a state of suspended animation
2. <the husband's feeling that their love life was in suspended animation while his wife lavished all her attention on the new baby>

First Known Use of SUSPENDED ANIMATION

1787

Related to SUSPENDED ANIMATION

Synonyms: cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, holding pattern, latency, moratorium, quiescence, abeyance, suspense, suspension

Antonyms: continuance, continuation

Related Words: inaction, inertia, inertness, motionlessness; impasse, standstill; coma, hibernation, hypnosis, repose, rest, sleep, slumber, torpor; recess, recession, remission; downtime, idleness, layoff

Near Antonyms: recommencement, renewal, resumption, resuscitation

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