- In legal terms an abeyance is defined as a situation in which the legitimate owner of a property is not yet known.
An example of abeyance is when a homeowner dies without leaving the house to anyone and his kids start to fight over it.
- The definition of abeyance is a temporary stop to something or a pause.
An example of abeyance is when construction has to stop because of rain but is scheduled to resume once it gets sunny again.
- temporary suspension, as of an activity or function
- Law a state of not having been determined or settled, as of lands the present ownership of which has not been established
Origin of abeyanceAnglo-French abeiance from Old French abeance, expectation from a-, to, at + bayer, to gape, wait expectantly: see bay
- The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension: held the plan in abeyance.
- Law A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an interest in an estate that has not yet vested.
Origin of abeyanceAnglo-Norman variant of Old French abeance desire from abaer to gape at a- at ( from Latin ad- ; see ad- . ) baer to gape ; see bay 2.
- (law) Expectancy; condition of ownership of real property being undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title. [Late 16th century]
- The proceeds of the estate shall be held in abeyance in an escrow account until the minor reaches age twenty-one.
- Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition. [Mid 17th century]
- (heraldry) Expectancy of a title, its right in existence but its exercise suspended.
- The broad pennant of a commodore first class has been in abeyance since 1958, together with the rank.
First attested in 1528. From Anglo-Norman abeiance (“legal expectation”), from Old French abeance (“desire”) from abeër (“to gape at, aspire after”), abaer, abair (“to desire”), from á (“to”) + baër (“gape”), bair (“yawn”), from Medieval Latin batare (“to yawn”) .
abeyance - Investment & Finance Definition
- A suspension of the title to real estate while the rightful ownership is being discovered.
- Temporarily setting aside, such as holding a plan in abeyance.
abeyance - Legal Definition
- An indefinite or temporary state of inactivity or suspension.
- An incomplete or undetermined state of existence.
- The status of real property or of a position or title when its ownership or occupancy is not vested in any existing person or party.