Sus-pĕn'sion, n.
n. [Lat. suspensio, Fr. & Sp. suspension, Pr. suspensio, It. suspensione, sospensione. See SUSPEND.]
Sense 1. The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended.
Sense 2. Especially, temporary delay, interruption, or cessation; as, (a.) Of labor, study, pain, and the like. (b.) Of decision, determination, judgment, and the like; as, to ask a suspension of judgment or opinion in view of evidence to be produced. (c.) Of the payment of what is due; as, the suspension of a mercantile firm, a bank, and the like. (d.) Of punishment, or sentence of punishment. (e.) Of office, powers, prerogative, and the like; as, the suspension of a clergyman. (f.) Of the action or execution of law, or the like; as, the suspension of the habeas corpus act.
Sense 3. A conditional withholding, interruption, or delay; as, the suspension of a payment on the performance of a condition.
Sense 4. (Rhet.) A keeping of the hearer in doubt and in attentive expectation of what is to follow, or what is to be the inference or conclusion from the arguments or observations.
Sense 5. (Scots Law.) A stay or postponement of execution of a sentence condemnatory, by means of letters of suspension granted on application to the lord ordinary.
Sense 6. (Mus.) The withholding of one or more tones proper to a chord, while retaining some tone or tones of the preceding chord, thus producing a momentary discord, or, as it is also called, discord by suspension.
Points of suspension (Mech.), the points, as in the axis or beam of a balance, at which the weights act, or from which they are suspended. — Suspension-bridge, a bridge supported by chains, ropes, or wires, which usually pass over high piers or columns at each end, and are secured in the ground below. — Suspension of arms (Mil.), a short truce or cessation of operations agreed on by the commanders of contending parties, as for burying the dead, making proposals for surrender or for peace, &c.
Synonyms—Delay; interruption; intermission; stop; withholding.
