Abeyance By Deane Barker • November 27, 2021 • Definition: A state of temporary disuse or suspension. Something is “in abeyance” or “held in abeyance” when there is no current assignment of ownership. A noble title is “in abeyance” when there is no one of the bloodline to claim it, for instance. By the same token, I suppose that consciousness is “in abeyance” while you’re asleep. Why I Looked It Up When discussing a notecard system for remembering things: You don’t need to carry all the cards with you everywhere of course – the abeyance or future-oriented ones can stay in a stack on your desk.