v.tr. 1 hang up. 2 keep inoperative or undecided for a time; defer. 3 debar temporarily from a function, office, privilege, etc. 4 (as suspended adj.) (of solid particles or a body in a fluid medium) sustained somewhere between top and bottom. suspended animation a temporary cessation of the vital functions without death. suspended sentence a judicial sentence left unenforced subject to good behaviour during a specified period. suspend payment (of a company) fail to meet its financial engagements; admit insolvency. suspensible adj.
[ ME f. OF suspendre or L suspendere suspens- (as SUB-, pendere hang) ]