Also 6 -cion, -sioun, -syon, Sc. -tione, 6–7 -tion. [ad. late L. suspensio, -ōnem, n. of action f. suspens-, suspendĕre: see SUSPENSE v. Cf. AF. suspensiun, mod.F. suspension, Pr. suspensio, etc.] The action of suspending or condition of being suspended.
I. 1. The action of debarring or state of being debarred, esp. for a time, from a function or privilege; temporary deprivation of one’s office or position.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, 74. Make them to feare the sentence of the chyrch, suspencions, excomunicacions and curses.
c. 1531. Pol. Rel. & Love Poems (1903), 62. Of no maner of man to be vsed,… nor to be red, vnder payne of suspencioun.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. Notes, 1065. Suspention is the censure of the Eldershippe, whereby one is for a time depriued of the Communion of the Sacraments.
1643. Ord. Lords & Com., Westm. Confess. (1658), 203. Authoritative suspension from the Lords Table, of a person not yet cast out of the Church, is agreeable to the Scripture.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, viii. 267. He … required his Chapter not to receive or instal them, under the pains of suspension.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 501. Suspension taken in a proper Sense is an Ecclesiastical Censure, whereby a Spiritual Person is either interdicted the Exercise of Ecclesiastical Function, or hindred from receiving the Profits of his Benefice.
1760. Cautious & Adv. Officers Army, 86. During your Suspension you are a sort of Prisoner at large and do no Duty.
1870. in J. W. Clark, Ordin. Univ. Camb. (1904), 306. Members of the University in statu pupillari, who are guilty of any of the foregoing practices, render themselves liable to be punished by Suspension, Rustication, Expulsion, or otherwise.
1881. [see SUSPEND v. 1].
† b. The state of being temporarily kept from doing, or deprived of, something. Obs.
1602. in Moryson Itin., II. (1617), 230. Many difficulties at home with himselfe, and actions of others abroad, may make suspension if not diversion from that Spanish invasion.
1637. in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 316. I was shortly after shut up close prisoner, with suspension of pen, ink, and paper.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, Pref. § 1. A long indefinite suspension from seeing light.
2. The action of stopping or condition of being stopped, esp. for a time; temporary cessation, intermission; temporary abrogation (of a law, rule).
Suspension of arms or hostilities, an armistice.
1603. in Rymer, Fœdera (1715), XVI. 494/1. That … you make a Recesse and Suspention of your Negotiation untill you shall have further Warrant … from our said Soveraigne Lord.
1619. in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 51. Their suspension of armes will separate their troupes.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 62. Ye suspencion of ye Rules was mencioned & let fall.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 68. We see men in the tortures of pain … excepting the short suspensions of sleep, for months together.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xi. 253. Occasioned by a casual delay of the galeon … and not by a total suspension of her departure for the whole season.
1835. Tomlin’s Law Dict., s.v. Habeas Corpus, A suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, lxi. VIII. 91. He granted a suspension of hostilities.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 2. 477. The suspension of arms lasted through the summer.
b. Law. The abeyance of a right, title, etc.
1694. in Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 221. The suspension in case of coheirs doth not arise from any incapacity either in the blood, or in the persons, of the coheirs.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Suspension … is a Temporal Stop of a Man’s Right.
c. Stoppage of payment of debts or claims on account of financial inability or failure.
1889. Standard, 20 March, 6/1. It was reported that the creditors of some of the unfortunate brokers who have been caught in the French collapse had offered a composition,… but no suspension was formally announced.
1893. Times, 26 April, 5/1. The suspension of the London Chartered Bank of Australia was announced to-day.
d. Palæography. A form of abbreviation consisting in representing a word by its first letter or letters accompanied by the contraction-mark; also, a word abbreviated in this way.
1896. W. M. Lindsay, Introd. Latin Textual Emend., Index, Suspension, contractions by.
1912. W. H. Stevenson in Eng. Hist. Rev., Jan., 12. The copyist … appends his mark of suspension to words that he could not fully read.
1915. W. M. Lindsay, Notae Latinae, 10. By the addition of the final letter the suspension ap was turned into the contraction apd.
3. The action of putting off to a later time; deferring, postponement; † respite.
1645. Waller, Upon Death Lady Rich, 12. With thousand vows and tears we should have sought That sad decree’s suspension to have wrought!
1648. Boyle, Seraph. Love, xiv. (1700), 81. Witness his Suspension of the World’s creation, which certainly had had an earlier Date, were the Deity capable of Want.
1660. R. Ellsworth, in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 120. What reason hath his Maiestie … to giue any the least suspention vnto those … who haue been … the Enimies of His Royall person?
1816. Dow, Appeals Ho. Lords, III. 224. This bill was not paid by the acceptors; and a protest was taken, and charge given, to the acceptors and indorsers, for each of whom suspensions were offered.
1912. Times, 19 Dec., 2/6. In considering what suspension he [sc. the judge] ought to impose [as to a bankrupt’s discharge].
4. Sc. Law. The staying or postponing of the execution of a sentence pending its discussion in the Supreme Court; a judicial order or warrant for such postponement and discussion (in full, letters of suspension). Bill of suspension, a petition for suspension formally presented by the party complaining.
1581. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 435. The suspensioun or supercedere grantit of executioun of letters.
1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 234. Howliglass … New falsat forged out for to defend him: Ane fair suspentione he hes send him.
1585. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 748. That all suspensionis aganis letters rasit … salbe deliverit be his Hienes chancellar.
1672. Justiciary Proceedings (S.H.S., 1905), II. 76. He had produced a suspension suspending the Warrand.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., IV. iii. § 8. Suspension and reduction are … remedies against the iniquitous … decrees of inferior judges.
1810. Bill of suspension [see INTERDICT sb. 2 b].
1826. G. J. Bell, Comm. Laws Scot. (ed. 5), I. 385. The bond in a suspension is, that the suspender shall make payment to the charger.
1838. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 965. A prayer for letters of suspension and interdict in the premises.
5. The action of keeping any mental action in suspense or abeyance: usually in phr., e.g., suspension of judgment, opinion; † also absol. hesitation or caution in decision, refraining from decisive action.
1568. in H. Campbell, Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots (1824), App. 44. They … promised to observe hir Majesty’s direction, both in the secresy, and in the suspension of their judgments.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. v. § 8. An impatience of doubt, and hast to assertion without due and mature suspention of iudgement.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. viii. 30. In his Indiary relations, wherein are contained … incredible accounts, he is surely to be read with suspension.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. ii. (1677), 58. The Acts of this Faculty [sc. the Will] are generally divided into Volition, Nolition, and Suspension.
1680. in Somers, Tracts (1748), I. 82. Reasons for justifying themselves in the Suspension of their Assent to this.
1694. Locke, Hum. Und. (ed. 2), II. xxi. § 47. During this suspension of any desire, before the will be determined to action.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, II. vii. (1762), 71. The Liberty of the Will in this Act of Suspension, consists in a Power to suspend even this Act, ’till [etc.].
1862. J. F. Stephen, Ess., 64. An amount of doubt, of suspension or opinion,… and … of aversion to every opinion.
1901. N. Amer. Rev., Feb., 296. That state of suspension of judgment which is somewhat inadequately designated agnosticism.
6. The action of keeping or state of being kept in suspense (spec. in Rhet.); doubt, uncertainty (with expectation of decision or issue); = SUSPENSE sb. 3. Now rare or Obs.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 196. That suspension tormented her not long.
1659. Pearson, Creed, iv. (1662), 207. The Article immediately preceding leaves us in the same suspension.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In Rhetorick, Suspension is a keeping the Hearer attentive and doubtful.
1798. Edgeworth, Pract. Educ. (1811), I. 123. You may exercise his attention by your manner of telling this story: you may employ with advantage the beautiful figure of speech called suspension.
1804. Eugenia de Acton, Tale without Title, I. 79. The face of the father exhibited the appearance of a gathering storm, and after an awful suspension, lightning issued from his eyes.
† 7. An ecstasy of contemplation. Obs. rare.
1671. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xxvi. 159. Our Lord holding her in a rapt, or suspension.
8. Mus. The action of deferring the progression of a part in harmony by prolonging a note of a chord into the following chord, usually producing a temporary discord; an instance of this, a discord so produced.
Sometimes restricted to the case in which the part descends: cf. RETARDATION 3 a.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus.
1838. G. F. Graham, Mus. Comp., 28/2. A variety of dissonances termed suspensions, or syncopations.
1853. J. Smith, Treat. Mus., 34. A suspension of the leading note, the suspension resolving upwards.
1891. Prout, Counterpoint (ed. 2), 17. The suspensions 9 8 and 4 3, with their inversions, are available.
II. 9. The action of hanging something up; the condition of being hung, or of hanging from a support; occas. hanging as a form of capital punishment; spec. in Med. the treatment of disease by suspending the patient; see also quot. 1901.
† Bridge of suspension = SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.
[1546. Bale, Engl. Votaries, I. (1550), 56 b. Threttenynge the woman suspensyon, ye may call yt hangynge yf ye wyll.]
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Suspension..., a hanging up.
1657. Thornley, trans. Longus’ Daphnis & Chloe, 41. They vowed an Anniversary suspension to him of some of the first fruits of the year.
1659. Pearson, Creed, iv. (1662), 231. True and formal crucifixion is often named by the general word suspension.
1713. Steele, Guard., No. 131, ¶ 2. He hangs ’em over a little Stick, which Suspension inclines them immediately to War upon each other.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Points of Suspension in a Ballance, are those Points in the Axis or Beam wherein the Weights are apply’d; or from which they are suspended.
1819. Philos. Mag., LIV. 15. A bridge, upon the principle of suspension.
1821. Edin. Philos. Jrnl., V. 237. Description of Bridges of Suspension.
1891. F. Taylor, Man. Pract. Med. (ed. 2), 207. The Method of Suspension [in locomotor ataxy] … was introduced by Professor Charcot.
1901. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 2), Suspension of the uterus, the operation of suturing the uterus to the abdominal wall.
1909. Q. Rev., July, 174. A gallows about to be used for the suspension of apprehended robbers.
b. concr. Something hanging from a support.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 143. A strong hawser … being passed under one of the arms of the anchor,… the whole suspension was in that manner purchased.
c. concr. A support on which something is hung.
1833. Crabb, Dict. Gen. Knowl. (ed. 3), Suspension, or Points of Suspension, those points in the axis … of a balance wherein the weights are applied, or from which they are suspended.
1906. Daily Chron., 15 Nov., 3/6. The gear-box will be easily adjustable on its three-point suspension.
d. Attachment such as to allow of movement about the point of attachment; ‘hanging,’ as of a vehicle on springs, straps, etc.
1891. in Cent. Dict.
1912. Sphere, 28 Dec. p. vi/2. Lanchester cars by reason of … their luxurious suspension are well suited for colonial requirements.
10. The action of holding up or state of being held up without attachment.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. iii. 72. If we conceive … that bodies suspended in the aire have this suspension from one or many Loadstones placed both above and below it.
1714. R. Fiddes, Pract. Disc., II. 338. The suspension of the clouds in a medium less gross than themselves.
11. The condition of being suspended, as particles, in a medium. Also concr. a collection of suspended particles.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 340. Its Salts … rise upwards, and circulate … around the Glass Vessel. These Salts, being in this suspension,… dispose themselves into Order.
1794. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 19. To ascertain the nature of that fluid which was capable of holding in solution or suspension that immense mass of solid substances of which the globe of the earth consists.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., vii. 505. The gum becoming dissolved, and retaining the resin and oil in suspension.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, iii. 53. Some silt carried down in suspension by the waters of the Forth may account for a part of the gain of low land.
1904. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 564. An arbitrarily chosen bacterial suspension in a test-tube.
12. attrib. and Comb., chiefly in sense 9: ‘of, pertaining to, or involving suspension,’ as suspension principle; ‘by which something is or may be suspended,’ as suspension apparatus, bolt, joint, -line, -link, -rod; ‘adapted for being suspended,’ as suspension-drill, -scale; also suspension-chain, each of the chains that support a suspension-bridge or similar structure; suspension-pier, a pier supported in the manner of a suspension-bridge, a chain-pier; suspension-railway, a railway in which the wheels run on an elevated rail or pair of rails, the bodies of the carriages being suspended below them; suspension-tower, each of the towers to which the chains are attached in a suspension-bridge or the like.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 875. *Suspension Apparatus … a splint with means of suspension from a frame.
1837. W. B. Adams, Carriages, 121. The ends are … curled round a mandril of the size of the *suspension bolt.
1823. Seaward, in Philos. Mag., 31 Dec., 425. Observations on *Suspension Chain Bridges.
1823. in Daily News, 5 Dec. (1896), 5/7. Over the top of each tower pass the main suspension chains which issue from the body of the cliff.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2464. *Suspension-drill,… a vertical drilling-machine having a frame which may be bolted to the ceiling, so as to be out of the way.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. ii. 70. Even after the *suspension joint has become supple by long use.
1884. W. H. Greenwood, Steel & Iron (ed. 2), Index, *Suspension links.
1822. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 352. The erection of *suspension piers.
1825. Gentl. Mag., XCV. I. 628/1. A line of railway … on the *suspension principle having been constructed at Cheshunt.
1835. Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Arts & Sci., II. 801/2. The bridge over the South Esk at Montrose furnishes a good example of the suspension principle.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2464. *Suspension-railway, a railway in which the carriage is suspended from an elevated track.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 335/1. The *suspension-rods are an inch square, and they support transverse cross-bearers.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2464. *Suspension-scale, one swung by pendent rods from levers above.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 334/2. The roadway, which rises about two feet in the centre between the *suspension-towers.
