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Suspense vs Suspend - What's the difference?

suspense | suspend |

In obsolete terms the difference between suspense and suspend

is that suspense is expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt while suspend is to make to depend.

As a noun suspense

is the condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.

As an adjective suspense

is held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding.

As a verb suspend is

to halt something temporarily.

suspense

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(-)
  • The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • a cool suspense from pleasure and from pain
  • the pleasurable emotion of anticipation and excitement regarding the outcome or climax of a book, film etc.
  • The unpleasant emotion of anxiety or apprehension in an uncertain situation.
  • * Denham
  • Ten days the prophet in suspense remained.
  • (legal) A temporary cessation of one's right; suspension, as when the rent or other profits of land cease by unity of possession of land and rent.
  • Derived terms

    * suspenseful

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding.
  • * Milton
  • [The great light of day] suspense in heaven.
  • (obsolete) Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt.
  • * Milton
  • Expectation held his look suspense .
    ----

    suspend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To halt something temporarily.
  • The meeting was suspended for lunch.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Suspend your indignation against my brother.
  • * Denham
  • The guard nor fights nor flies; their fate so near / At once suspends their courage and their fear.
  • To hold in an undetermined or undecided state.
  • to suspend one's judgement or one's disbelief
    (John Locke)
  • To discontinue or interrupt a function, task, position, or event.
  • to suspend a thread of execution in a computer program
  • To hang freely; underhang.
  • to suspend a ball by a thread
  • To bring a solid substance, usually in powder form, into suspension in a liquid.
  • (obsolete) To make to depend.
  • * Tillotson
  • God hath suspended the promise of eternal life on the condition of obedience and holiness of life.
  • To debar, or cause to withdraw temporarily, from any privilege, from the execution of an office, from the enjoyment of income, etc.
  • to suspend''' a student from college; to '''suspend a member of a club
  • * Bishop Sanderson
  • 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.
  • (chemistry) To support in a liquid, as an insoluble powder, by stirring, to facilitate chemical action.
  • Antonyms

    * resume

    See also

    suspension, suspenders

    Anagrams

    * * English ergative verbs ----