Hypertext Webster Gateway: "suspense"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Suspense \Sus*pense"\, a. [F. suspens, L. suspensus, p. p. of
suspendere. See {Suspend}.]
1. Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding.
[Obs.]
[The great light of day] suspense in heaven.
--Milton.
2. Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt. [Obs.]
``Expectation held his look suspense.'' --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Suspense \Sus*pense"\, n. [From F. suspens, a. See {Suspense},
a.]
1. The state of being suspended; specifically, a state of
uncertainty and expectation, with anxiety or apprehension;
indetermination; indecision; as, the suspense of a person
waiting for the verdict of a jury.
Ten days the prophet in suspense remained. --Denham.
Upon the ticklish balance of suspense. --Cowper.
2. Cessation for a time; stop; pause.
A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain. --Pope.
3. [Cf. F. suspense.] (Law) 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.
{Suspense account} (Bookkeeping), an account in which
receipts or disbursements are temporarily entered until
their proper position in the books is determined.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
suspense
n 1: apprehension about what is going to happen
2: an uncertain cognitive state; "the matter remained in
suspense for several years"
3: excited anticipation of an approaching climax; "the play
kept the audience in suspense"
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