abeyant

[uh-bey-uhnt]

adjective

1. temporarily inactive, stopped, or suspended.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abeyant¹

First recorded in 1865–70; abey(ance) + -ant

When To Use

What does abeyant mean?

Abeyant describes something that is temporarily stopped or inactive. Something that is abeyant is suspended with the possibility of continuing later. A car at a red light or a film that is on pause could be described as abeyant. However, the term is mostly used figuratively or in specialized cases. An abeyant disease, for example, is one that has been temporarily dormant or inactive. An abeyant service is one that is temporarily unavailable.In the law, when someone dies without specifying who will be the executor of their estate or who will inherit any property, that estate or property is said to be abeyant. In other words, it is without ownership until someone is identified as the next owner or executor. A proceeding, decision, or any other aspect of the court of law can also be held abeyant for several reasons. For example, a case can be held abeyant if the parties wish to come to a temporary settlement but have the option to go back to court later.Example: After Rini’s passing, the abeyant properties she owned were rented out by her family, which may bring legal trouble.