Abeyance

abeiance, abbayance, abbaiannce, I. fr. Abeyantia, I Expectation; suspense Applied (though the doctrine of abeyance is now to some extent discredited) to an estate which cannot vest in inheritance because there is no certain person who can take; applied also to maritime captures not yet condemned as prize; applied also to the franchise of a corporation chartered but not yet brought into existence by act of the corporators.