Contextualizebeta

suspense

noun
/səˈspɛns/

Etymology

From Middle English suspense, suspence, from Anglo-Norman suspens (as in en suspens) and Old French suspens, from Latin suspēnsus.

  1. derived from suspēnsus
  2. derived from suspens
  3. derived from suspens
  4. inherited from suspense

Definitions

  1. The condition of being suspended

    The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.

    • For thee the Fates, severely kind, ordain / A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain; / Thy life a long dead calm of fix'd repose; / No pulse that riots, and no blood that glows.

  2. The pleasurable emotion of anticipation and excitement regarding the outcome or climax of…

    The pleasurable emotion of anticipation and excitement regarding the outcome or climax of a book, film etc.

  3. The unpleasant emotion of anxiety or apprehension in an uncertain situation.

    • Ten days the prophet in suspense remain'd.
    • I believe that, to the young, suspense is the most intolerable suffering. Active misery always brings with it its own power of endurance.
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. A temporary cessation of one's right

      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.

    2. A deadline.

      • She sent us that assignment with a suspense of noon tomorrow.

    3. Held or lifted up

      Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding.

      • [The great light of day] suspens in heav'n.

    4. Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt.

      • Expectation held his look suspense.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at suspense. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01suspense02emotion03involuntary04intention05tension

A definitional loop anchored at suspense. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

5 hops · closes at suspense

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA