To stop temporarily and remain, as if reluctant to leave

• wait

  1. To remain or rest in expectation:
  2. To stay in one place until another catches up:
  3. To remain or be in readiness:

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  1. To remain or rest in expectation:
  2. To stay in one place until another catches up:
  3. To remain or be in readiness:

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• tarry

  1. To delay or be late in going, coming, or doing something:
  2. To wait or stay temporarily:
  3. To wait for; await.

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  1. To delay or be late in going, coming, or doing something:
  2. To wait or stay temporarily:
  3. To wait for; await.

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• stay

  1. To continue to be in a place or condition:
  2. To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger:
  3. To linger or wait in order to do or experience something:

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  1. To continue to be in a place or condition:
  2. To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger:
  3. To linger or wait in order to do or experience something:

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• linger

  1. To stay in a place or be slow in leaving it, often out of reluctance:
  2. To continue or persist:
  3. To remain feebly alive for some time before dying.

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  1. To stay in a place or be slow in leaving it, often out of reluctance:
  2. To continue or persist:
  3. To remain feebly alive for some time before dying.

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• bide

  1. To remain in a condition or state.
  2. To wait; tarry.
  3. To stay:

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  1. To remain in a condition or state.
  2. To wait; tarry.
  3. To stay:

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• abide

  1. To put up with; tolerate:
  2. To wait patiently for:
  3. To remain in a place:

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  1. To put up with; tolerate:
  2. To wait patiently for:
  3. To remain in a place:

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To be irresolute in acting or doing

• wobble

  1. To move or rotate with an uneven or rocking motion or unsteadily from side to side.
  2. To tremble or quaver:
  3. To waver or vacillate in one's opinions or feelings.

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  1. To move or rotate with an uneven or rocking motion or unsteadily from side to side.
  2. To tremble or quaver:
  3. To waver or vacillate in one's opinions or feelings.

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• waver

  1. To move unsteadily back and forth:
  2. To move in a certain direction with a swaying or unsteady motion:
  3. To exhibit irresolution or indecision; vacillate:

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  1. To move unsteadily back and forth:
  2. To move in a certain direction with a swaying or unsteady motion:
  3. To exhibit irresolution or indecision; vacillate:

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• vacillate

  1. To be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions; waver:
  2. To change between one state and another; fluctuate:
  3. To sway from one side to the other.

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  1. To be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions; waver:
  2. To change between one state and another; fluctuate:
  3. To sway from one side to the other.

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• stagger

  1. To move or stand unsteadily, as if under a great weight; totter.
  2. To cause to totter, sway, or reel:
  3. To astonish, shock, or overwhelm:

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  1. To move or stand unsteadily, as if under a great weight; totter.
  2. To cause to totter, sway, or reel:
  3. To astonish, shock, or overwhelm:

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• shilly-shally

  1. To procrastinate.
  2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.
  3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.

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  1. To procrastinate.
  2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.
  3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.

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• hesitate

  1. To pause or wait in uncertainty:
  2. To be slow to act, speak, or decide:
  3. To be reluctant:

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  1. To pause or wait in uncertainty:
  2. To be slow to act, speak, or decide:
  3. To be reluctant:

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• halt

  1. A suspension of movement or progress, especially a temporary one:
  2. To cause to stop:
  3. To stop; pause:

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  1. A suspension of movement or progress, especially a temporary one:
  2. To cause to stop:
  3. To stop; pause:

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• falter

  1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver:
  2. To speak hesitatingly; stammer:
  3. To move unsteadily or haltingly; stumble:

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  1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver:
  2. To speak hesitatingly; stammer:
  3. To move unsteadily or haltingly; stumble:

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• dither

  1. A state of indecisive agitation.
  2. To be nervously irresolute in acting or doing.

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  1. A state of indecisive agitation.
  2. To be nervously irresolute in acting or doing.

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A cessation of continuity or regularity

• suspension

  1. An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law.
  2. A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
  3. A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.

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  1. An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law.
  2. A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
  3. A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.

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• interruption

  1. an interrupting or being interrupted
  2. anything that interrupts
  3. the interval during which something is interrupted; intermission

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  1. an interrupting or being interrupted
  2. anything that interrupts
  3. the interval during which something is interrupted; intermission

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• disruption

  1. See disruptive technology.

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  1. See disruptive technology.

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• discontinuity

  1. Lack of continuity, logical sequence, or cohesion.
  2. A break or gap.
  3. A surface at which seismic wave velocities change.

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  1. Lack of continuity, logical sequence, or cohesion.
  2. A break or gap.
  3. A surface at which seismic wave velocities change.

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• discontinuation

  1. A cessation; a discontinuance.

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  1. A cessation; a discontinuance.

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• discontinuance

  1. The act or an instance of discontinuing or the condition of being discontinued; cessation.
  2. The plaintiff's failure to proceed in a legal action.
  3. The plaintiff's agreement to the dismissal of a legal action.

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  1. The act or an instance of discontinuing or the condition of being discontinued; cessation.
  2. The plaintiff's failure to proceed in a legal action.
  3. The plaintiff's agreement to the dismissal of a legal action.

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• break

  1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
  2. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting:
  3. To separate into components or parts:

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  1. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.
  2. To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting:
  3. To separate into components or parts:

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The act of hesitating or state of being hesitant

• vacillation

  1. Indecision in speech or action.
  2. Changing location by moving back and forth.

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  1. Indecision in speech or action.
  2. Changing location by moving back and forth.

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• to-and-fro

  1. Back and forth.

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  1. Back and forth.

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• timidness

  1. The property of being timid; shyness.

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  1. The property of being timid; shyness.

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• timidity

  1. shyness

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  1. shyness

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• tentativeness

  1. The characteristic of being tentative.

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  1. The characteristic of being tentative.

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• shilly-shally

  1. To procrastinate.
  2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.
  3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.

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  1. To procrastinate.
  2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.
  3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.

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• irresolution

  1. Lack of resolution; lack of decision or purpose; vacillation.

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  1. Lack of resolution; lack of decision or purpose; vacillation.

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• irresoluteness

  1. The state of being irresolute.

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  1. The state of being irresolute.

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• indecisiveness

  1. The condition of being indecisive

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  1. The condition of being indecisive

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• indecision

  1. Reluctance or an inability to make up one's mind; irresolution.

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  1. Reluctance or an inability to make up one's mind; irresolution.

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• hesitation

  1. The act or an instance of hesitating.
  2. The state of being hesitant.
  3. A pause or faltering in speech.

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  1. The act or an instance of hesitating.
  2. The state of being hesitant.
  3. A pause or faltering in speech.

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• hesitancy

  1. The state or quality of being hesitant.
  2. An instance of hesitating.

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  1. The state or quality of being hesitant.
  2. An instance of hesitating.

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A break

• stoppage

  1. The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped; a halt:

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  1. The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped; a halt:

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• gap

  1. An opening in a solid structure or surface; a cleft or breach:
  2. A break in a line of defense.
  3. An opening through mountains; a pass.

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  1. An opening in a solid structure or surface; a cleft or breach:
  2. A break in a line of defense.
  3. An opening through mountains; a pass.

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• rest period

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  • Go to "rest period" definitions
• interval

  1. A space between objects, points, or units, especially when making uniform amounts of separation:
  2. An amount of time between events, especially of uniform duration separating events in a series:
  3. A segment of an athletic workout in which an athlete runs, swims, or does other exercise over a series of predetermined distances at regular time increments with intermittent rests.

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  1. A space between objects, points, or units, especially when making uniform amounts of separation:
  2. An amount of time between events, especially of uniform duration separating events in a series:
  3. A segment of an athletic workout in which an athlete runs, swims, or does other exercise over a series of predetermined distances at regular time increments with intermittent rests.

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• stopover

  1. An interruption in the course of a journey for stopping or visiting at a certain place.
  2. A place visited briefly in the course of a journey.

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  1. An interruption in the course of a journey for stopping or visiting at a certain place.
  2. A place visited briefly in the course of a journey.

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• cessation

  1. A bringing or coming to an end; a ceasing:

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  1. A bringing or coming to an end; a ceasing:

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• lapse

  1. To fall from a previous level or standard, as of accomplishment, quality, or conduct:
  2. To deviate from a prescribed or accepted way:
  3. To pass gradually or smoothly; slip:

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  1. To fall from a previous level or standard, as of accomplishment, quality, or conduct:
  2. To deviate from a prescribed or accepted way:
  3. To pass gradually or smoothly; slip:

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• interim

  1. An interval of time between one event, process, or period and another.
  2. Belonging to, serving during, or taking place during an intermediate interval of time; temporary:

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  1. An interval of time between one event, process, or period and another.
  2. Belonging to, serving during, or taking place during an intermediate interval of time; temporary:

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• abeyance

  1. The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension:
  2. A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an interest in an estate that has not yet vested.

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  1. The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension:
  2. A condition of undetermined ownership, as of an interest in an estate that has not yet vested.

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• hiatus

  1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break:
  2. A slight pause that occurs when two immediately adjacent vowels in consecutive syllables are pronounced, as in reality and naive.
  3. A separation, aperture, fissure, or short passage in an organ or body part.

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  1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break:
  2. A slight pause that occurs when two immediately adjacent vowels in consecutive syllables are pronounced, as in reality and naive.
  3. A separation, aperture, fissure, or short passage in an organ or body part.

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• interlude

  1. An intervening episode, feature, or period of time:
  2. A short farcical entertainment performed between the acts of a medieval mystery or morality play.
  3. A 16th-century genre of comedy derived from this.

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  1. An intervening episode, feature, or period of time:
  2. A short farcical entertainment performed between the acts of a medieval mystery or morality play.
  3. A 16th-century genre of comedy derived from this.

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• hesitancy

  1. The state or quality of being hesitant.
  2. An instance of hesitating.

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  1. The state or quality of being hesitant.
  2. An instance of hesitating.

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• hitch

  1. To fasten, connect, or attach:
  2. To move or raise by pulling or jerking:
  3. To get (a ride) by hitchhiking:

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  1. To fasten, connect, or attach:
  2. To move or raise by pulling or jerking:
  3. To get (a ride) by hitchhiking:

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• breather

  1. One that breathes, especially in a specified manner:
  2. A short rest period:
  3. An activity, such as strenuous exercise, that causes difficult breathing.

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  1. One that breathes, especially in a specified manner:
  2. A short rest period:
  3. An activity, such as strenuous exercise, that causes difficult breathing.

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• breathing-space

  1. Sufficient space or a span of time in which to recover one's breath.
  2. A rest, pause, or respite.
  3. Enough distance so that one can feel unfettered.

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  1. Sufficient space or a span of time in which to recover one's breath.
  2. A rest, pause, or respite.
  3. Enough distance so that one can feel unfettered.

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• discontinuance

  1. The act or an instance of discontinuing or the condition of being discontinued; cessation.
  2. The plaintiff's failure to proceed in a legal action.
  3. The plaintiff's agreement to the dismissal of a legal action.

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  1. The act or an instance of discontinuing or the condition of being discontinued; cessation.
  2. The plaintiff's failure to proceed in a legal action.
  3. The plaintiff's agreement to the dismissal of a legal action.

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• suspension

  1. An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law.
  2. A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
  3. A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.

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  1. An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law.
  2. A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
  3. A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.

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• intermission

  1. An interval between periods of activity, as between the acts of a play.

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  1. An interval between periods of activity, as between the acts of a play.

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Temporary inaction

• stillness

  1. The quality or state of being still; quietness; silence; calmness; inactivity.
  2. Habitual silence or quiet; taciturnity.

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  1. The quality or state of being still; quietness; silence; calmness; inactivity.
  2. Habitual silence or quiet; taciturnity.

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• deadlock

  1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions.
  2. A tied score.
  3. A failure or inability to proceed due to two programs or devices both requiring a response from the other before completing an operation.

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  1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions.
  2. A tied score.
  3. A failure or inability to proceed due to two programs or devices both requiring a response from the other before completing an operation.

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• stand

  1. To rise to an upright position on the feet.
  2. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified:
  3. To maintain an upright position on the feet.

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  1. To rise to an upright position on the feet.
  2. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified:
  3. To maintain an upright position on the feet.

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• standstill

  1. Complete cessation of activity or progress:

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  1. Complete cessation of activity or progress:

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• interregnum

  1. The interval of time between the end of a sovereign's reign and the accession of a successor.
  2. A period of temporary suspension of the usual functions of government or control.
  3. A gap in continuity.

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  1. The interval of time between the end of a sovereign's reign and the accession of a successor.
  2. A period of temporary suspension of the usual functions of government or control.
  3. A gap in continuity.

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• respite

  1. A usually short period of rest or relief.
  2. Temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence.
  3. Forbearance or delay, as granted in the payment of a debt.

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  1. A usually short period of rest or relief.
  2. Temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence.
  3. Forbearance or delay, as granted in the payment of a debt.

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• stay

  1. To continue to be in a place or condition:
  2. To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger:
  3. To linger or wait in order to do or experience something:

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  1. To continue to be in a place or condition:
  2. To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger:
  3. To linger or wait in order to do or experience something:

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• suspension of active hostilities

  • Go to "suspension of active hostilities" definitions

  • Go to "suspension of active hostilities" definitions
• truce

  1. A temporary cessation or suspension of hostilities by agreement of the opposing sides; an armistice.
  2. A respite from a disagreeable state of affairs.
  3. To end or be ended with a truce.

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  1. A temporary cessation or suspension of hostilities by agreement of the opposing sides; an armistice.
  2. A respite from a disagreeable state of affairs.
  3. To end or be ended with a truce.

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• halt

  1. A suspension of movement or progress, especially a temporary one:
  2. To cause to stop:
  3. To stop; pause:

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  1. A suspension of movement or progress, especially a temporary one:
  2. To cause to stop:
  3. To stop; pause:

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• stop

  1. To close (an opening or hole) by covering, filling in, or plugging up:
  2. To constrict (an opening or orifice):
  3. To obstruct or block passage on (a road, for example).

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  1. To close (an opening or hole) by covering, filling in, or plugging up:
  2. To constrict (an opening or orifice):
  3. To obstruct or block passage on (a road, for example).

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• rest

  1. A period of inactivity, relaxation, or sleep:
  2. Sleep or the refreshment resulting from inactivity or sleep:
  3. The repose of death:

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  1. A period of inactivity, relaxation, or sleep:
  2. Sleep or the refreshment resulting from inactivity or sleep:
  3. The repose of death:

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• lull

  1. To cause to sleep or rest; soothe or calm:
  2. To deceive into trustfulness:
  3. To become calm:

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  1. To cause to sleep or rest; soothe or calm:
  2. To deceive into trustfulness:
  3. To become calm:

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