suspended

[suh-spen-did]

adjective

1. hung by attachment to something above.

   A suspended ceiling can conceal ducts and wiring, enhance acoustics, and provide thermal insulation.

2. attached so as to allow free movement, as on a hinge.

   The wardrobe is available with either sliding doors or suspended doors.

3. (of particles of one substance in the medium of another) kept from falling, sinking, forming a deposit, etc..

   Her paper describes the content and dynamics of heavy metals in the suspended sediments of a coastal bay.

4. held or kept undetermined or unformed.

   In order to understand others, you need an attitude of suspended judgment—an open mind.

5. Law.,  (of a sentence) not required to be served, as long as the offender does not reoffend within a specified time period.

   After his first offense he was given a suspended sentence of one year’s probation, with no jail time.

6. stopped, discontinued, or withdrawn, usually temporarily.

   Because he was not only impaired but driving on a suspended license, he was charged with aggravated DUI—a felony.

7. debarred temporarily from exercising an office or privilege, usually as a form of discipline.

   Suspended students can come to our center for tutoring and counseling instead of just playing video games at home.

8. deferred or postponed.

   Some defended the court’s suspended verdict, while others protested that “justice delayed is justice denied.”

9. Music.

   1. (of a note or tone) prolonged or sustained into the next chord.

      The third piece, “Meditation,” uses suspended tones to capture a dreamy, contemplative mood.

   2. (of a chord) made by replacing the third note in a triad with an adjacent note, producing a lack of resolution.

      I think her acoustic guitar pieces rely too much on suspended chords.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of suspend.

Other Word Forms

• nonsuspended adjective
• self-suspended adjective
• unsuspended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspended¹

First recorded in 1530–40; suspend ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; suspend ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

It is understood Mr Steadman remains suspended, pending a party investigation, which has been paused while legal proceedings are ongoing.

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But the government shutdown, entering its 34th day on Monday, suspended that for now.

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But the government shutdown, entering its 34th day on Monday, suspended that for now.

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Noble was convicted in July of assaulting three people and initially given a suspended jail term, but, following an appeal, his sentence was quashed and he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

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The bodies of the three people climbing together were recovered on Saturday before rescue efforts were suspended due to fading light and safety conditions.

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Related Words

• deferred 
• delayed