Now rare or Obs. Also 5–7 suspens, suspence. [a. OF. suspens-e, or ad. its source L. suspensus, pa. pple. of suspendĕre to SUSPEND.]
† 1. Held in contemplation, attentive. (Cf. SUSPEND v. 5 a, SUSPENSION 7.) Obs.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, vii. In contemplacion [he was] mor suspense þan oþir men.
1556. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 245. In which talk he held men very suspense.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Luke xix. 48. All the people was suspense [Vulg. suspensus erat; ἐξεκρέματο] hearing him.
2. In a state of mental suspense; waiting for the issue; doubtful, uncertain; undecided.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 881. Thus haue this folkis at Kataryn taken her leue, Walkyng to chaunbre with hertes ful suspens; Keepyng this mater al clos in sylens. Ibid. (c. 1450), Life St. Aug., viii. Thus lyued he with suspense mynde, in grete doute.
1546. Coverdale, Treat. Lord’s Supper, A vij. Wt indifferent and suspense mynde.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. vi. 34. Whose hart twixt doubtfull feare And feeble hope hung all this while suspence.
1660. Milton, Free Commw., Wks. 1851, V. 434. While all Minds are suspense with Expectation of a new Assembly. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 418. Expectation held His look suspence, awaiting who appeer’d To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt.
1812. Cary, Dante, Parad., XXVIII. 37. The guide beloved Saw me in anxious thought suspense [orig. in cura Forte sospeso].
1851. C. L. Smith, trans. Tasso, VI. xlix. This people and that other stay suspense At [orig. incerto pende Da] spectacle so horrible and new.
† b. Objectively doubtful or uncertain; undetermined. Obs.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Gagg, 64. That leave it so suspence, without distinction.
1657. Hawke, Killing is M., Pref. With his Suspence and involved Questions.
† 3. Refraining from hasty decision or action; cautious, deliberate. Obs.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570), B v. To callers importune, of wordes be suspence.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Pref. ii. § 2. The selfe same orders allowed, but yet established in more warie and suspense maner.
1619. Hales, Gold. Rem., II. (1673), 97. Private meetings in my Lord Bishops Lodging; where upon Wednesday Morning were drawn certain Theses in very suspense and wary terms.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VI. 155. To proceed to the great Remedies especially, with a suspense pace and slowly.
4. Hung, hung up, hanging; = SUSPENDED 6.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 500. The pament vnderthirled & suspense. Ibid., III. 679. That they suspence aparti so may stonde.
1610. Gwillim, Heraldry, IV. xv. (1660), 341. These Shields which we call Armes suspence.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. iii. III. xlviii. Those higher stars They may as well in water hang suspense As do the Planets. Ibid., Notes Psychozoia, 349. The imaginative operations of Psyche are more high, more hovering and suspense from immersion into the grosser spirits of this body.
1882. Symonds, Animi Figura, 138. Man, The climax of earth’s miracle, suspense On the last wave of being.
† b. Of a nose: Turned up. Obs. rare.
1697. Evelyn, Numism., ix. 297. The Suspense, subdolous and given to deride.
† 5. Held back, restrained. Obs. rare.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 99. The great Light of Day … suspens in Heav’n Held by thy voice.
