n. & v.
n. 1 an interval of inaction, esp. when due to hesitation; a temporary stop. 2 a break in speaking or reading; a silence. 3 Mus. a mark (3! 3!) over a note or rest that is to be lengthened by an unspecified amount.
v.intr. 1 make a pause; wait. 2 (usu. foll. by upon) linger over (a word etc.). give pause to cause (a person) to hesitate.
[ ME f. OF pause or L pausa f. Gk pausis f. pauo stop ]