abeyant

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.

The first records of the term abeyant come from around the 1860s. It ultimately comes from the Old French term abeance, meaning “a gaping at” or “an absence toward.”

What are some synonyms for abeyant?

• dormant
• latent
• inactive
• suspended

What are some words that share a root or word element with abeyant? 

• abeyance

What are some words that often get used in discussing abeyant?

• estate
• law
• owned
• property

Abeyant is most often used within the field of estate law and the legal ownership of property.

The WWE COO @TripleH brings the abeyant @WWE Title to the ring, shakes @RandyOrton's hand, offers a shake to Bryan, which is rejected.

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 28, 2013

The biggest lie ever told was that we are the leaders of tomorrow. All it did was instill a sense of spectatorship, create a mindset of ease and has consequently let to an abeyant generation that believes they have no control today. Cheers to all those who choose to lead today👏🏾

— Ian Khonje ™ (@Ian_Khonje_) July 25, 2020

Abeyant music
suddenly sparks into life
at the needle's touch.#haiku

— Bob Jones (@lostcitylondon) August 20, 2015

True or False?

A law that is suspended until it is voted on is abeyant.