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 emulsion
3 : something suspended
4 : the means by which something is suspended; especially : the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles