Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Suspend?

\Sus*pend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Suspended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Suspending}.] [F. suspendre, or OF. souspendre (where the prefix is L. subtus below, from sub under), L. suspendere, suspensum; pref. sus- (see {Sub-}) + pendere to hang. See {Pedant}, and cf. {Suspense}, n.] 1. To attach to something above; to hang; as, to suspend a ball by a thread; to suspend a needle by a loadstone. 2. To make to depend; as, God hath suspended the promise of eternal life on the condition of obedience and holiness of life. [Archaic] --Tillotson. 3. To cause to cease for a time; to hinder from proceeding; to interrupt; to delay; to stay. Suspend your indignation against my brother. --Shak. The guard nor fights nor fies; their fate so near At once suspends their courage and their fear. --Denham. 4. To hold in an undetermined or undecided state; as, to suspend one's judgment or opinion. --Locke. 5. To debar, or cause to withdraw temporarily, from any privilege, from the execution of an office, from the enjoyment of income, etc.; as, to suspend a student from college; to suspend a member of a club. Good men should not be suspended from the exercise of their ministry and deprived of their livelihood for ceremonies which are on all hands acknowledged indifferent. --Bp. Sanderson. 6. To cause to cease for a time from operation or effect; as, to suspend the habeas corpus act; to suspend the rules of a legislative body. 7. (Chem.) To support in a liquid, as an insoluble powder, by stirring, to facilitate chemical action. {To suspend payment} (Com.), to cease paying debts or obligations; to fail; -- said of a merchant, a bank, etc. Syn: To hang; interrupt; delay; intermit; stay; hinder; debar.
\Sus*pend"\, v. i. To cease from operation or activity; esp., to stop payment, or be unable to meet obligations or engagements (said of a commercial firm or a bank).