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Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding. [Obs.] [The great light of day] suspense in heaven. Milton.

In suspense. [Obs.] Hales.

ude; greatly concerned or solicitous, esp. respecting future or unknown; being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons; as, anxious for the issue of a battle.

Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple. All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks." Pope.

To hang in suspense; to be pending; to be undetermined or undecided; as, a cause depending in court. You will not think it unnatural that those who have an object depending, which strongly engages their hopes and fears, should be somewhat inclined to superstition. Burke.

A matter depending, or in suspense, and still to be determined; ground of controversy or quarrel. [Obs.] To go on now with my first dependence. Beau. & Fl.

bundle or little pack; hence, a burden. [Obs.] Shak. A fardel of never-ending misery and suspense. Marryat.

the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire; hence, to hesitate, to hold back as if in suspense.

To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment. Pope.

wait long; to be slow or reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate. Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind. Gray. Perhaps thou linger'st, in deep thoughts detained. Milton.

The quality or state of being undecided, or in continuance; suspense; as, the pendency of a suit. Ayliffe.

Not yet decided; in continuance; in suspense; as, a pending suit.

To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety. "Perplexd beyond self- explication." Shak. We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. iv. 8. We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind. Locke.

To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt. The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air. Longfellow.

To free from doubrt, suspense, or uncertainty; to give assurance to; as, to satisfy one's self by inquiry. The standing evidences of the truth of the gospel are in themselves most firm, solid, and satisfying. Atterbury.

y nose. Chaucer. I am a woman, lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons. Shak. Suspense of judgment and exercise of charity were safer and seemlier for Christian men than the hot pursuit of these controversies. Hooker.

amphlet; to suppress the truth. She suppresses the name, and this keeps him in a pleasing suspense. Broome.

Tending to suspend, or to keep in suspense; causing interruption or delay; uncertain; doubtful. "In suspensive thoughts." Beaumont. "A suspensive veto." Macaulay. The provisional and suspensive attitude. J. Morley. Suspensive condition (Scots Law), a condition precedent, or a condition without the performance of which…

tenters, or on the tenter-hooks, to be on the stretch; to be in distress, uneasiness, or suspense. Hudibras.

A slight nervous excitement or agitation, such as is caused by desire, expectation, or suspense. A widow, who had a twittering towards a second husband, took a gossiping companion to manage the job. L'Estrange.