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sus·pen·sion (sə-spĕnshən)
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n.
1. The act of suspending or the condition of being suspended, especially:
a. An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law. See Synonyms at pause.
b. A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
c. A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.
2. Music
a. The prolongation of one or more tones of a chord into a following chord to create a temporary dissonance.
b. The tone or tones so prolonged.
3. A device from which a mechanical part is suspended.
4. The system of springs and other devices that insulates the chassis of a vehicle from shocks transmitted through the wheels.
5. Chemistry A system in which minute particles are dispersed throughout a fluid from which they are easily filtered but not easily settled because of system viscosity or molecular interactions.
(click for a larger image)
suspension
from J.S. Bach's Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp Minor
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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