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Abeyance vs Abstain - What's the difference?

abeyance | abstain |

As a noun abeyance

is (legal) expectancy; condition of ownership of real property being undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title .

As a verb abstain is

(transitive|reflexive|obsolete) keep or withhold oneself .

abeyance

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (legal) Expectancy; condition of ownership of real property being undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title.
  • The proceeds of the estate shall be held in abeyance in an escrow account until the minor reaches age twenty-one.
    When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance (or a dignity) can vest, it is said to be in abeyance . -Blackstone
  • Suspension; temporary suppression; dormant condition.
  • * 2003 , (Bill Bryson), A Short History of Nearly Everything , BCA 2003, page 376:
  • Without a plausible explanation for what might have provoked an ice age, the whole theory fell into abeyance .
  • (heraldry) Expectancy of a title, its right in existence but its exercise suspended.
  • The broad pennant of a commodore first class has been in abeyance since 1958, together with the rank.

    References

    abstain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
  • Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites.
  • * Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
  • (obsolete) Fast.
  • Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
  • * Not a few abstained from voting. -
  • (obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold.
  • * Whether he abstain men from marying [sic]. -
  • Usage notes

    * (keep or withhold oneself) Followed by the word from' or ' of . * (refrain from something) Followed by the word from .

    Synonyms

    * deny oneself * forbear * forgo * give up * refrain * relinquish * withhold

    Derived terms

    * abstention

    References

    Anagrams

    *