a·bey·ance 
(ə-bāəns)
(ə-bāəns)n.
1. The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension: held the plan in abeyance.
2. Law A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an interest in an estate that has not yet vested.
[Anglo-Norman, variant of Old French abeance, desire, from abaer, to gape at : a-, at (from Latin ad-; see AD-) + baer, to gape; see BAY2.]
a·beyant adj.