In the following question, select the word that is most similar in meaning to the given word 'Abeyance'.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Suspension

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks for a synonym, that is, a word with a meaning closest to the given word Abeyance. Such questions are common in English sections of competitive exams and help test a candidate is range of academic vocabulary. Knowing the meaning of abeyance is important because it is frequently used in formal writing to describe something that is temporarily inactive or put on hold.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Target word: Abeyance.
  • Options: Commencement, Perjure, Condone, and Suspension.
  • The task is to select the option that most closely matches the meaning of abeyance.
  • We assume standard dictionary meanings of all words.


Concept / Approach:
Abeyance means a state of temporary disuse, suspension, or inactivity. For example, a legal case may be held in abeyance, meaning it is temporarily not being pursued. Among the options, Suspension is the word that best captures this sense of something being temporarily stopped or held back. The other words have completely different meanings related to beginning, lying under oath, and pardoning an offence.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Define abeyance. It refers to a situation where an action, process, or rule is temporarily not in effect or not being used.Step 2: Consider Option D: Suspension. Suspension means the act of stopping something temporarily, such as the suspension of a service or an activity.Step 3: Compare both meanings. Abeyance and Suspension both describe a temporary pause or holding state, so they are close synonyms in this context.Step 4: Check Option A: Commencement. This means beginning or start, which is the opposite of stopping or pausing, so it cannot be the synonym.Step 5: Check Option B: Perjure. This is a verb that means to tell a lie under oath in a court of law, which is unrelated to suspension or inactivity.Step 6: Check Option C: Condone. This means to overlook or forgive a fault, wrongdoing, or offence.Step 7: Conclude that Suspension is the only choice that matches the meaning of Abeyance.


Verification / Alternative check:
Look at example sentences: The project is in abeyance until further funding is approved and The project is under suspension until further notice. In both examples, the idea is that the project is temporarily stopped, not permanently cancelled or begun. Dictionaries often list in abeyance as meaning in a state of suspension or temporary disuse. This confirms that Suspension is the correct synonym among the options provided.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Commencement refers to the start of something, which is conceptually opposite to pausing it.
  • Perjure is related to giving false testimony under oath and does not resemble the meaning of abeyance at all.
  • Condone means to approve or allow something morally wrong by not punishing it; this is also unrelated to temporary inactivity.


Common Pitfalls:
Students might confuse abeyance with absence or avoidance due to similar sounds, but abeyance has a specific meaning tied to legal and formal contexts. Another mistake is to guess based on familiarity; words like Commencement and Condone may seem familiar, but without understanding their meanings, it is easy to choose incorrectly. It is important to build vocabulary by learning words in context rather than simply memorising lists without usage examples.


Final Answer:
The word that is most similar in meaning to Abeyance is Suspension.

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