Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Old French
Origin: abeance 'expectation', from abaer 'to desire', from baer; ABASHED

abeyance

 noun
     
a‧bey‧ance

in abeyance

something such as a custom, rule, or system that is in abeyance is not being used at the present time
fall into abeyance (=no longer be used)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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