Main Entry:

sus·pen·sion

Pronunciation:

\sə-ˈspen(t)-shən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English suspensyon, from Anglo-French suspension, from Late Latin suspension-, suspensio, from Latin suspendere

Date:

15th century

1: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: as a: temporary removal (as from office or privileges) b: temporary withholding (as of belief or decision) c: temporary abrogation of a law or rule d (1): the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects ; specifically : such a dissonance which resolves downward — compare anticipation, retardation (2): the tone thus held over e: stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure —used especially of a business or a bank f: a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit 2 a: the act of hanging : the state of being hung b (1): the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid (2): a substance in this state (3): a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size — compare emulsion3: something suspended4: the means by which something is suspended ; especially : the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles