Also 5–9 suspence, 6–7 -ens. [a. AF., OF. suspens m., in phr. en suspens (Rolls Parlt., an. 1306) in abeyance, or OF. suspense f. deferring, delay, repr. med.L. suspensum (in phr. in suspenso), *suspensa (= suspensio), neut. and fem. of suspensus, pa. pple. of suspendĕre to SUSPEND. (The neut. form is represented also in It. sospeso, Sp., Pg. suspenso.) Cf. the history of DEFENCE and OFFENCE.]
† 1. (Chiefly Law.) In suspense, not being executed, fulfilled, rendered, paid, or the like; esp. to put in suspense, to defer or intermit the execution, payment, etc., of. Obs.
1421. Hoccleve, Learn to Die, 138. Whethir not changed may be this sentence; O lord, may it nat put been in suspense?
1492. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 445. That by this same Act … the same Rentes and Services … be not extincted nor put in suspence.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 9, The same estatutes … shalbe in suspence and not to put in execucion duryng the saide tyme.
1544. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, III. x. 124 b. The tenaunt for terme of lyfe hath fe in the seruyces, but seruyces be put in suspence durynge his lyfe.
1576. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 522. That the saidis landis … remane in the menetyme in suspens un-mellit or intromettit with be ayther of the saidis partiis.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 313. Albeit during the couerture the seruices shal be put in suspence.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 186. It was a springing use, resting in suspence during his life.
† b. Hence gen. (a) Temporary cessation, intermission, abeyance; = SUSPENSION 2. Obs.
1584. S. Cox, in Nicolas, Life Sir C. Hatton (1847), 396. The long suspense of your favor, hath bred an opinion … that [etc.].
1588. Holy Bull & Crusade Rome, 36. Though it were so, that all the same or any of them, did containe any clause contrary to this suspence.
1710. Norris, Chr. Prud., v. 251. In natural Sleep the senses of the Body are bound up, so that there is a suspense of Sensation.
1717. Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 250. For thee the fates … ordain A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain.
1783. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 26 Aug. I hope this little journey will afford me at least some suspense of melancholy.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 552. That though, where a number of years directly constituted the term of suspense, property could not be prevented from vesting absolutely during 25 years, [etc.].
† (b) Deferment, delay. Obs.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. 204. Edward, I accept thee here, Without suspence, as my adopted sonne.
1602. in Moryson Itin. (1617), II. 252. These vnreasonable Billes haue been looked into (and so some suspence of paiment made).
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 284, ¶ 2. Their whole Time is spent in suspense of the present Moment to the next.
a. 1718. Penn, Innocency, Wks. 1726, I. 266. This short Apology,… which had not been thus long retarded, if an Expectation … had not required a Suspense.
2. The state of being suspended or kept undetermined (chiefly to hold, keep in suspense); hence, the action of suspending one’s judgment; = SUSPENSION 5.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 99 b. To geue no credit vnto sclaunders,… but to keepe theyr iudgement in suspence, tyll [etc.].
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. xiv. § 6. Suspence of iudgement and exercise of charitie.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vi. 223. This will afford Matter of Exercise, for religious Suspense and Deliberation.
1794. Paley, Evid., III. iv. (1800), II. 314. The miracles did not … so compel assent, as to leave no room for suspense.
1892. Westcott, Gospel of Life, 216. Cases may arise in which it is our duty to hold our judgment in suspense.
1908. Westm. Gaz., 16 Jan., 2/2. The plea for a suspense of judgment until the facts are known.
3. A state of mental uncertainty, with expectation of or desire for decision, and usually some apprehension or anxiety; the condition of waiting, esp. of being kept waiting, for an expected decision, assurance or issue; less commonly, a state of uncertainty what to do, indecision: esp. in to keep (or hold) in († great or † a great) suspense.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 1838. This putte þe puple in conceytes ful suspens.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 127. Without drede or feare,… suspence & doutfulnes of mynde.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Luke xxiv. 28, note. Christe wolde kepe them in suspens til his tyme came to manifest him self vnto him.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 15. I praid him … that he wuld not suffer me to go in as great suspens as I cam.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. VI. i. If he … be in suspition, suspence, or any way molested, satisfie his mind.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1569. Suspense in news is torture, speak them out.
1700. C. Nesse, Antid. Armin. (1827), 58. Men wickedly think that God is such an one as themselves … hanging in pendulous suspences.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 82. It was no less than four days before our boat came back, so that the poor men were held in great suspense.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 73/1. An incredible silence reigned among the people, anxious for the event, and lost in suspense.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxii. All stood in a kind of suspense, waiting the event of the orders which the tyrant had issued.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 170. His opinions oscillated in a state of contented suspense between infidelity and popery.
1871. Spurgeon, Treas. David, Ps. lxxxviii. 18. The ear remains in suspense; until the majestic lxxxixth [psalm] shall burst upon it.
† b. In suspense (const. clause, also of): undecided, doubtful, uncertain. Obs.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 8. I stand in suspence whether hir like were euer borne.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 92. He stoode in suspence where he should passe.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Tri., 290. To hold their merchants in suspense of making any sauing trade.
1692. Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., 141. ’Tis certain too that Caesar had his Hazards, but … I’m in suspence whether he was ever much Wounded in all his Wars.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. ix. 230. They were lying upon their oars in suspence what to do.
c. Objectively, as an attribute of affairs, etc.: Doubtfulness, uncertainty, undecidedness. † In suspense: (of a question, etc.) undecided, doubtful.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. ciii. (1811), 78. Which innaturall batayll hangynge in suspence to whether of theym the victory shulde turne.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 246. Meanynge thereby … in the meane season to let that matter be in suspence.
1593. Norden, Spec. Brit., M’sex, II. 23. There is a free Schole for the towne, the stipend yet in suspence, the Fishmongers of London contribute twentie pound.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxii. § 8. Leauing this in suspence as a thing not … certainely knowne.
1633. Massinger, Dk. Milan, I. i. It being in suspense on whose fair tent Winged Victory will make her glorious stand.
1747. Middleton, Cicero, I. v. 375. In this suspense of his affairs at Rome.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, xxxix. Such events are very interesting; but the suspense of them cannot last long.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 2. 461. The first twenty years of Elizabeth’s reign were a period of suspense.
† d. Doubt as to a person’s character or conduct. Obs.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 140. ’Tis my speciall hope, That you will cleare your selfe from all suspence.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 77. Bring you mee a princoks beardlesse boy … to call my name in suspense?
e. attrib. in suspense account (Book-keeping), an account in which items are temporarily entered until their proper place is determined.
1882. Bithell, Counting-Ho. Dict. (1893), 291.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 27 Nov., 11/1. There is the profit of £20,178 transferred to reduction of a suspense account.
4. = SUSPENSION 8. rare.
1752. trans. Rameau’s Treat. Musick, 98. The sounds A keep in Suspence those of B, which naturally ought to have been heard.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, May xv. Responsive rivalries, that, while they strove, Combined in full harmonious suspense, Entrancing wild desire, then fell at last Lull’d in soft closes.
† 5. = SUSPENSION 9. Obs. rare.
[1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xix. 120*. In a defensive warre, when his countrey is hostilely invaded, ’tis pity but his neck should hang in suspence with his conscience that doubts to fight.]
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 99. Must clouds be so precipitated, or kept in suspence, as the case of a particular man or two requires?
1727. Swift, Baucis & Philemon, 63. Doom’d ever in suspence to dwell, ’Tis now no kettle, but a bell.
